Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-3751 is a prototype pollution issue in the Node.js merge-recursive module. If an attacker can control part of the structure passed into its utilities function, they may add or change properties inherited by all objects in the process.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted dependency cleanup item. It is not source-supported as actively exploited, but prototype pollution can undermine application integrity when reachable from untrusted input.
Technical view
All versions of merge-recursive up to and including 0.3.0 are described as affected. The issue allows Object prototype modification through attacker-controlled input reaching the utilities function. The bundle provides no CVSS, CWE, fixed version, or vendor mitigation details.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Node.js applications or build/runtime dependencies that include merge-recursive <=0.3.0 and pass untrusted structured data into merge operations.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation depends on attacker influence over the object structure processed by the vulnerable function.
Researcher notes
The evidence is sparse: CVE description and HackerOne reference identify the vulnerable package and condition, but not CVSS, fixed release, exploit activity, or affected downstream products.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory direct and transitive use of merge-recursive.
- Check npm or vendor guidance for a non-affected version or replacement.
- Remove or replace the package if no maintained fix is available.
- Prevent untrusted structured input from reaching vulnerable merge paths.
- Add input validation around object merge boundaries.
Validation and detection
- Review package manifests and lockfiles for merge-recursive <=0.3.0.
- Confirm whether vulnerable code is included in production deployments.
- Trace whether user-controlled structured data reaches merge-recursive utilities.
- Use SCA results to identify transitive dependency paths.
- Retest after dependency replacement or removal.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2018-3751 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://hackerone.com/reports/311337CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.