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joi: object().rename() with a template target can set the validated object's prototype

Low severity GitHub Reviewed Published Aug 19, 2026 in hapijs/joi • Updated Sep 8, 2026

Package

npm joi (npm)

Affected versions

>= 16.0.0, < 17.13.5
>= 18.0.0, < 18.2.4

Patched versions

17.13.5
18.2.4

Description

Impact

Applications are affected only if a schema renames keys with a regular-expression source and a Joi.expression() / Joi.x() target that interpolates the pattern's own match data, combined with { multiple: true }, for example .rename(/^x-(.+)$/, Joi.x('{#1}'), { multiple: true }). Because the target is rendered from the matched input key, an attacker who controls input keys can send x-__proto__ with an object value and make the rename target render as __proto__, which sets the prototype of the object joi returns instead of creating a key on it. The global Object.prototype is not modified, so the effect is confined to the object returned by that one validate() call.

Schemas using a static string rename target are not affected, and neither are schemas left on the default { multiple: false }.

Patches

Versions 17.13.5 and 18.2.4 have been released to address the issue.

Workarounds

  1. Replace the template rename target with a static string target.
  2. Keep the template but make the capture unable to produce __proto__, using a negative lookahead: .rename(/^x-(?!__proto__$)(.+)$/, Joi.x('{#1}'), { multiple: true })
  3. Drop { multiple: true } from the rename, which stops the rename before the assignment.

References

@Marsup Marsup published to hapijs/joi Aug 19, 2026
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Sep 1, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Sep 8, 2026
Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
Last updated Sep 8, 2026

Severity

Low

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(19th percentile)

Weaknesses

Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')

The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2026-84367

GHSA ID

GHSA-gg4h-3hg2-grpc

Source code

Credits

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