Loading...
Skip to main content

CVE-2026-44293 — Vulnerability in protobufjs — CVE Details

HIGH

protobuf.js: Code injection through bytes field defaults in generated toObject code

Published May 12, 2026Updated September 10, 2026Source: osv

Summary

## Summary protobufjs generated JavaScript for `toObject` conversion could include an unsafe expression derived from a schema-controlled `bytes` field default value. A crafted descriptor with a non-string default value for a `bytes` field could cause attacker-controlled code to be emitted into the generated conversion function. ## Impact An attacker who can provide or influence a protobuf descriptor may be able to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the process using protobufjs. This requires the application to load an attacker-controlled schema or descriptor and then convert a message of the affected type with defaults enabled. Applications that only use trusted, application-defined schemas are not directly affected by this issue. ## Preconditions - The application must allow an attacker to control or influence a protobuf JSON descriptor or equivalent reflected schema. - The descriptor must define a `bytes` field with an attacker-controlled default value. - The application must call `toObject` with defaults enabled for the affected type. ## Workarounds Do not load protobuf schemas or JSON descriptors from untrusted sources with affected versions. If untrusted schemas must be accepted, validate or restrict field options before loading them and run schema processing in an isolated environment.

Advisory Timeline

  • First published May 12, 2026 (153 days ago).
  • Last revised September 10, 2026 — 121 days after initial publication.

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

npm
Update protobufjs to 7.5.6 or later
npm install protobufjs@7.5.6
npm
Update protobufjs to 8.0.2 or later
npm install protobufjs@8.0.2

After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.

Affected Packages (2)

Affects 1 ecosystem: npm (1).

PackageEcosystemAffectedFixed In
protobufjs
npm
All versions7.5.6
protobufjs
npm
All versions8.0.2

Vulnerability Classification

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.

CVSS Score Breakdown

What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 8.4 score means for each attack dimension.

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
—
Confidentiality
—
Integrity
—
Availability
—

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-44293?
protobuf.js: Code injection through bytes field defaults in generated toObject code This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of HIGH (CVSS score: 8.4/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-44293?
CVE-2026-44293 affects protobufjs. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against CVE-2026-44293 and 200,000+ other known vulnerabilities.

Severity & Exploitability

CVSS Score
8.4

High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.

Also Known As

GHSA-66ff-xgx4-vchm

Related CVEs

Check if you're affected

Scan your dependencies to see if this vulnerability affects your projects.

Scan Your Dependencies