Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-26136 affects the Node.js tough-cookie package before 4.1.3. In a specific CookieJar mode, malicious cookie handling can pollute JavaScript object prototypes, potentially changing application behavior or exposing limited data. Treat this as moderate priority unless the vulnerable mode is used in exposed request-processing paths.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation in internet-facing Node.js services and products that process untrusted cookies. For internal systems without the risky CookieJar setting, handle through normal dependency patching cycles.
Technical view
The issue is prototype pollution in tough-cookie CookieJar when rejectPublicSuffixes=false. The CVSS vector indicates network reachability, low attack complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, with low confidentiality and integrity impact. The fixed upstream version is 4.1.3.
Likely exposure
Most likely exposure is Node.js applications or transitive dependencies using tough-cookie versions before 4.1.3, especially where CookieJar is configured with rejectPublicSuffixes=false. Distribution and vendor advisories suggest downstream packaged exposure should also be checked.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The supplied CVSS vector includes E:P, suggesting proof-of-concept maturity, but no source here supports real-world exploitation claims.
Researcher notes
Focus review on object initialization and cookie parsing flows involving CookieJar with public suffix rejection disabled. Evidence is sufficient for affected version and fix direction, but incomplete for active exploitation or product-specific blast radius.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade tough-cookie to version 4.1.3 or later.
- Review package-lock, yarn.lock, pnpm-lock, and SBOMs for transitive vulnerable versions.
- Avoid rejectPublicSuffixes=false unless business logic requires it.
- Apply Debian, Fedora, NetApp, or other vendor updates where tough-cookie is bundled.
- Monitor upstream tough-cookie and vendor advisories for additional guidance.
Validation and detection
- Confirm runtime dependency resolution loads tough-cookie 4.1.3 or later.
- Search code for CookieJar configurations using rejectPublicSuffixes=false.
- Run software composition analysis against production dependency manifests.
- Check container images and OS packages for bundled vulnerable tough-cookie versions.
- Verify remediation in deployed artifacts, not only source repositories.
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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CWE-1321: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-26136 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/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:L/I:L/A:N/E:P3.92.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-TOUGHCOOKIE-5672873CVE reference
- https://github.com/salesforce/tough-cookie/issues/282CVE reference
- https://github.com/salesforce/tough-cookie/commit/12d474791bb856004e858fdb1c47b7608d09cf6eCVE reference
- https://github.com/salesforce/tough-cookie/releases/tag/v4.1.3CVE reference
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/07/msg00010.htmlCVE reference
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6PVVPNSAGSDS63HQ74PJ7MZ3MU5IYNVZ/CVE reference
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3HUE6ZR5SL73KHL7XUPAOEL6SB7HUDT2/CVE reference
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006/CVE reference
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.
Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.