CVE-2022-26260 Critical Vulnerability Detected In Simple-plist Library

Jul 19, 2025 by JurnalWarga.com 71 views

CVE-2022-26260 Critical Vulnerability in simple-plist

Hey guys! Today, we're diving into a critical security vulnerability, CVE-2022-26260, that affects the simple-plist library. This is a big deal, so let's break it down and see what it means for you and your projects.

What's the Deal with CVE-2022-26260?

So, CVE-2022-26260 is a critical vulnerability found in the simple-plist library, specifically versions 1.1.1.tgz and 0.2.1.tgz. If you're using these versions, you're going to want to pay close attention. This vulnerability could allow attackers to do some serious damage, and we definitely want to avoid that!

Vulnerable Libraries: simple-plist-1.1.1.tgz and simple-plist-0.2.1.tgz

Let's zoom in on the affected libraries. We're talking about simple-plist-1.1.1.tgz and simple-plist-0.2.1.tgz. These are wrapper utilities designed to make it easier to interact with plist (Property List) data, which is commonly used in Apple environments. If you're working with iOS or macOS development, you've probably encountered plists before.

simple-plist-1.1.1.tgz

This version is a wrapper utility for interacting with plist data. You can find it on npm here. If you're using cordova-ios, you might be pulling this in as a dependency. Here's how it breaks down:

Library Home Page: https://registry.npmjs.org/simple-plist/-/simple-plist-1.1.1.tgz
Path to Dependency File: /package.json
Path to Vulnerable Library: /node_modules/cordova-ios/node_modules/simple-plist/package.json
Dependency Hierarchy:
- cordova-ios-6.1.1.tgz (Root Library)
- xcode-3.0.1.tgz
- :x: simple-plist-1.1.1.tgz (Vulnerable Library)

As you can see, if your project uses cordova-ios, you're potentially pulling in this vulnerable version of simple-plist through its dependency on xcode.

simple-plist-0.2.1.tgz

Similarly, simple-plist-0.2.1.tgz is also a wrapper utility for plist data. It’s available on npm here. This one often shows up when using cordova-custom-config.

Library Home Page: https://registry.npmjs.org/simple-plist/-/simple-plist-0.2.1.tgz
Path to Dependency File: /package.json
Path to Vulnerable Library: /node_modules/simple-plist/package.json
Dependency Hierarchy:
- cordova-custom-config-5.1.0.tgz (Root Library)
- xcode-1.1.0.tgz
- :x: simple-plist-0.2.1.tgz (Vulnerable Library)

If you're using cordova-custom-config, especially in older projects, there's a good chance you’re using this vulnerable version.

Where Was This Found?

This vulnerability was found in the master branch. So, if you're pulling from the main branch of a project that uses these libraries, you're at risk. It’s super important to check your dependencies and update them ASAP.

Diving Deeper: Vulnerability Details

So, what makes this CVE-2022-26260 so serious? It's a prototype pollution vulnerability in simple-plist version 1.3.0, specifically through the .parse() function. Prototype pollution is a nasty type of vulnerability that can allow attackers to inject properties into JavaScript object prototypes. This can lead to all sorts of bad things, including:

Denial of Service (DoS): By polluting prototypes, an attacker could cause your application to crash or become unresponsive.
Remote Code Execution (RCE): In some cases, attackers might even be able to execute arbitrary code on the server or client.
Security Bypass: An attacker could potentially bypass security checks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.

The vulnerability was published on March 22, 2022. For more detailed information, you can check out the Mend vulnerability database here.

Understanding the CVSS 3 Score

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3 score of 9.8, which is critical. Let's break down what that means. CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) is a standardized way to assess the severity of vulnerabilities. A score of 9.8 puts this in the highest severity category.

Base Score Metrics

Exploitability Metrics:
- Attack Vector: Network: This means the vulnerability can be exploited over a network, making it remotely exploitable.
- Attack Complexity: Low: It's not difficult to exploit this vulnerability.
- Privileges Required: None: An attacker doesn't need any special privileges to exploit this.
- User Interaction: None: No user interaction is required for the exploit to work.
- Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority.
Impact Metrics:
- Confidentiality Impact: High: The vulnerability can lead to a significant loss of data confidentiality.
- Integrity Impact: High: The vulnerability can result in data being modified or corrupted.
- Availability Impact: High: The vulnerability can cause a service to become unavailable.

In simpler terms, this vulnerability is easily exploitable over the internet, doesn't require any special conditions, and can lead to significant damage. If you want to dive deeper into CVSS scores, you can check out the CVSS 3.0 calculator here.

The Fix: Upgrade Your simple-plist Version

Okay, so we know there's a problem. What's the solution? The suggested fix is to upgrade your simple-plist version. This is the most straightforward way to protect your application from this vulnerability.

Type: Upgrade version
Origin: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26260
Release Date: 2022-03-22
Fix Resolution: simple-plist - 2.0.0-rc.0

The fix resolution is to upgrade to simple-plist version 2.0.0-rc.0 or later. This version contains the necessary patches to address the prototype pollution vulnerability. Make sure to update your dependencies in your package.json file and run npm install or yarn install to pull in the updated version.

How to Upgrade

Upgrading is pretty straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:

Check Your Dependencies: First, you'll want to check your project's package.json file to see if you're using a vulnerable version of simple-plist. Look for simple-plist under your dependencies or devDependencies.
Update Your package.json: If you find a vulnerable version, update the version number to 2.0.0-rc.0 or later. For example:
```
"dependencies": {
    "simple-plist": "^2.0.0-rc.0",
    // Other dependencies
}
```
Install the Updated Version: Run npm install or yarn install in your project directory to install the new version.
Test Your Application: After upgrading, make sure to thoroughly test your application to ensure that the update hasn't introduced any regressions or compatibility issues.

Why This Matters

Security vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-26260 are a big deal. They can have serious consequences, from data breaches to complete system compromise. By staying proactive about security and addressing vulnerabilities like this one, you can protect your applications and your users.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! CVE-2022-26260 is a critical prototype pollution vulnerability in the simple-plist library. If you're using versions 1.1.1.tgz or 0.2.1.tgz, you need to upgrade to version 2.0.0-rc.0 or later. Stay vigilant, keep your dependencies up to date, and you'll be in a much better position to keep your projects secure.

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