CVE-2024-36582 identifies a critical prototype pollution vulnerability in the object-deep-assign library version 1.0.11, maintained by alexbinary. The vulnerability resides in the extend() method of the Module.deepAssign function, which improperly handles object property assignments. Prototype pollution occurs when an attacker can inject or modify properties on the Object prototype, thereby affecting all objects that inherit from it. This can lead to severe consequences such as arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or application crashes due to corrupted internal state. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The CVSS score of 9.8 (critical) reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's nature and severity make it a prime target for attackers. The weakness is categorized under CWE-1321, which relates to improper handling of object prototypes in JavaScript. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention from developers and security teams relying on this library in their software stacks.

The impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations worldwide that utilize the object-deep-assign library in their JavaScript or Node.js applications. Exploitation can allow attackers to manipulate application logic, execute arbitrary code, corrupt data, or cause denial of service by polluting the prototype chain. This can lead to data breaches, service outages, and loss of trust. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, it can be exploited remotely by unauthenticated attackers, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. Enterprises with web applications, APIs, or backend services depending on this library are particularly vulnerable. The critical severity implies that successful exploitation could compromise entire systems or networks, especially in environments where this library is used in critical infrastructure, cloud services, or enterprise software. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

To mitigate CVE-2024-36582, organizations should first identify all instances where the object-deep-assign library version 1.0.11 is used, including transitive dependencies. Until an official patch is released, consider the following specific actions: 1) Replace or upgrade the vulnerable library with a patched or alternative library that does not suffer from prototype pollution issues. 2) Implement input validation and sanitization to prevent untrusted data from reaching the extend() method or similar functions that manipulate object properties. 3) Use JavaScript security best practices such as freezing or sealing objects to prevent prototype modifications where feasible. 4) Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting prototype pollution attack patterns. 5) Monitor application logs and behavior for anomalies indicative of prototype pollution exploitation attempts. 6) Educate development teams about the risks of prototype pollution and secure coding practices to avoid similar vulnerabilities in custom code. 7) Maintain an inventory of dependencies and subscribe to vulnerability databases to promptly apply updates once patches become available.