How severe is CVE-2023-36665?

CVE-2023-36665 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2023-36665 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (74th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-36665?

CVE-2023-36665 affects Protobufjs Project Protobufjs. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-36665?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2023-36665 published?

CVE-2023-36665 was published on 2023-07-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-36665

CVE-2023-36665 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Protobufjs Project Protobufjs with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-1321.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (74th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-1321
Affected product: Protobufjs Project Protobufjs
Published: 2023-07-05
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

"protobuf.js (aka protobufjs) 6.10.0 through 7.x before 7.2.5 allows Prototype Pollution, a different vulnerability than CVE-2022-25878. A user-controlled protobuf message can be used by an attacker to pollute the prototype of Object.prototype by adding and overwriting its data and functions. Exploitation can involve: (1) using the function parse to parse protobuf messages on the fly, (2) loading .proto files by using load/loadSync functions, or (3) providing untrusted input to the functions ReflectionObject.setParsedOption and util.setProperty.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-36665?: "protobuf.js (aka protobufjs) 6.10.0 through 7.x before 7.2.5 allows Prototype Pollution, a different vulnerability than CVE-2022-25878. A user-controlled protobuf message can be used by an attacker to pollute the prototype of Object.prototype by adding and overwriting its data and functions. Exploitation can involve: (1) using the function parse to parse protobuf messages on the fly, (2) loading .proto files by using load/loadSync functions, or (3) providing untrusted input to the functions ReflectionObject.setParsedOption and util.setProperty.
How severe is CVE-2023-36665?: CVE-2023-36665 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2023-36665 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (74th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-36665?: CVE-2023-36665 affects Protobufjs Project Protobufjs. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-36665?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2023-36665 published?: CVE-2023-36665 was published on 2023-07-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:protobufjs_project:protobufjs:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Protobufjs Project Protobufjs

CVE-2026-41242 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. In versions prior to 8.0.1 and 7.5.5,…
CVE-2026-44293 — High (CVSS 8.8): protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. Prior to 7.5.6 and 8.0.2, protobufjs generated…
CVE-2022-25878 — High (CVSS 8.2): The package protobufjs before 6.11.3 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution which can allow an attacker to add/modify…
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CVE-2026-48712 — High (CVSS 7.5): protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. Prior to 7.6.1 and 8.4.1, protobufjs could…
CVE-2026-44290 — High (CVSS 7.5): protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. Prior to 7.5.6 and 8.0.2, protobufjs allowed…

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