CVE-2026-44489: axios Prototype Pollution

Description

Axios is a promise based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js. From 1.15.2 to before 1.16.0, nested objects created by utils.merge() (e.g., config.proxy) are still constructed as plain {} with Object.prototype in their chain. The setProxy() function at lib/adapters/http.js:209-223 reads proxy.username, proxy.password, and proxy.auth without hasOwnProperty checks. When Object.prototype.username is polluted, setProxy() constructs a Proxy-Authorization header with attacker-controlled credentials and injects it into every proxied HTTP request. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.16.0.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

3.7

LOW

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0023

Probability of exploitation

0.13%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-113 CWE-113

CWE-1321 CWE-1321

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
axios	axios	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-654m-c8p4-x5fp https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-654m-c8p4-x5fp

Exploits

https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-654m-c8p4-x5fp https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-654m-c8p4-x5fp

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-44489? +

Axios is a promise based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js. From 1.15.2 to before 1.16.0, nested objects created by utils.merge() (e.g., config.proxy) are still constructed as plain {} with Object.prototype in their chain. The setProxy() function at lib/adapters/http.js:209-223 reads proxy.username, proxy.password, and proxy.auth without hasOwnProperty checks. When Object.prototype.username is polluted, setProxy() constructs a Proxy-Authorization header with attacker-controlled credentials and injects it into every proxied HTTP request. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.16.0. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.7 (LOW).

How severe is CVE-2026-44489? +

CVE-2026-44489 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 3.7 out of 10, rated LOW. This is a low-severity vulnerability with limited impact. The EPSS score is 0.0023, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-44489? +

CVE-2026-44489 affects products from axios, specifically: axios. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-44489? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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