# CVE-2022-46175: node-json5: JSON5 is an extension to the popular JSON file format that aims to be easier to write and maintain by hand (e.g

CVE-2022-46175 is fixed in node-json5 on 1 platform, first by node-json5 0.5.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, released December 23, 2022. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-46175
- Priority: High
- CVSS: 8.8 (high)
- EPSS: 0.0970
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Dec 23, 2022

## Description

JSON5 is an extension to the popular JSON file format that aims to be easier to write and maintain by hand (e.g. for config files). The `parse` method of the JSON5 library before and including versions 1.0.1 and 2.2.1 does not restrict parsing of keys named `__proto__`, allowing specially crafted strings to pollute the prototype of the resulting object. This vulnerability pollutes the prototype of the object returned by `JSON5.parse` and not the global Object prototype, which is the commonly understood definition of Prototype Pollution. However, polluting the prototype of a single object can have significant security impact for an application if the object is later used in trusted operations. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to set arbitrary and unexpected keys on the object returned from `JSON5.parse`. The actual impact will depend on how applications utilize the returned object and how they filter unwanted keys, but could include denial of service, cross-site scripting, elevation of privilege, and in extreme cases, remote code execution. `JSON5.parse` should restrict parsing of `__proto__` keys when parsing JSON strings to objects. As a point of reference, the `JSON.parse` method included in JavaScript ignores `__proto__` keys. Simply changing `JSON5.parse` to `JSON.parse` in the examples above mitigates this vulnerability. This vulnerability is patched in json5 versions 1.0.2, 2.2.2, and later.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | node-json5 Debian 12.15 (bookworm) | 2.2.3+dfsg-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2022-46175](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2022-46175.md) | Dec 24, 2022 |
| Linux | node-json5 Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 2.2.3+dfsg-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2022-46175](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2022-46175.md) | Dec 24, 2022 |
| Linux | node-json5 Debian 14 | 2.2.3+dfsg-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2022-46175](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2022-46175.md) | Dec 24, 2022 |
| Linux | node-json5 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 0.5.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | [node-json5 0.5.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-node-json5-0.5.1-1ubuntu0.1-esm1.md) | Dec 23, 2022 |
| Linux | node-json5 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 0.5.1-3ubuntu0.1 | [node-json5 0.5.1-3ubuntu0.1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-node-json5-0.5.1-3ubuntu0.1.md) | Dec 23, 2022 |
| Linux | node-json5 Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS (jammy) | 2.2.0+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | [node-json5 2.2.0+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-jammy-node-json5-2.2.0-dfsg-1ubuntu0.1-esm1.md) | Dec 23, 2022 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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