Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-23497 is a prototype pollution flaw in the JavaScript package @strikeentco/set before 1.0.2. If an exposed application uses the vulnerable package with attacker-controlled data, the reported impact is denial of service and possible remote code execution. The source bundle does not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority dependency remediation item for affected JavaScript services, especially internet-facing systems. Business urgency is meaningful because exploitation requires no authentication or user interaction, but priority should be limited to environments where @strikeentco/set is actually present.
Technical view
The vulnerability affects @strikeentco/set before 1.0.2 and is described as an incomplete fix for an earlier Snyk issue. CVSS 3.1 is 7.5 with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. The scored impact is availability-only, while the description notes possible remote code execution.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Node.js or JavaScript applications that directly or transitively depend on @strikeentco/set before 1.0.2, particularly where application data reaches vulnerable object-setting behavior. Confirm through dependency manifests and lockfiles rather than assuming package presence.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates remote, unauthenticated, low-complexity exploitation with no user interaction. The vector also lists proof-of-concept exploit maturity, but the bundle marks CISA KEV as false and provides no evidence of active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Do not broaden scope beyond @strikeentco/set without dependency evidence. The CVE description reports denial of service and possible remote code execution, but the CVSS impact fields score only availability loss. Note the incomplete-fix lineage to SNYK-JS-STRIKEENTCOSET-1038821 when reviewing patch history.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade @strikeentco/set to 1.0.2 or later where present.
- Regenerate lockfiles so transitive dependency resolution actually changes.
- If upgrade is blocked, follow vendor or Snyk guidance for compensating controls.
- Reduce attacker-controlled data reaching object path-setting logic.
- Prioritize internet-facing services and shared backend packages first.
Validation and detection
- Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for @strikeentco/set.
- Confirm installed versions are 1.0.2 or later.
- Check dependency trees for transitive inclusion of the package.
- Run the project’s unit and regression tests after dependency changes.
- Review external input paths that feed object-setting utilities.
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
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-23497 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P3.93.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://snyk.io/blog/remediate-javascript-type-confusion-bypassed-input-validation/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-STRIKEENTCOSET-2385945CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/strikeentco/set/commit/b2f942cCVE 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.