CVE-2026-56812: CWE-754 Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions in phoenixframework phoenix
Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions vulnerability in phoenixframework phoenix (Presence JavaScript client) allows an attacker with ordinary channel access to cause a persistent client-side denial of service against every viewer of a presence channel topic. This vulnerability is associated with program files assets/js/phoenix/presence.js and program routines Presence.syncState and Presence.syncDiff. The Phoenix JavaScript presence client checks whether a presence already exists with a bare truthiness test (state[key]) instead of an own-property check. Presence keys can be attacker-controlled, because applications track presences under a username or id supplied by the client. A user who joins a channel choosing a key that is an Object.prototype member name (__proto__, constructor, toString, hasOwnProperty, and similar) makes that lookup return JavaScript's built-in Object.prototype instead of undefined. Because the prototype is truthy, the code treats it as an existing presence and reads .metas.map(...) off it, which throws an uncaught TypeError. The exception propagates out of the presence message handler, so the local state is never updated and onSync() never fires. Because the malicious key is tracked on the server, it is re-pushed on every presence update and keeps re-throwing, so presence sync stays broken for every viewer of that channel topic until the attacker leaves. Both syncState and syncDiff use the same unsafe existence-check pattern. The impact is limited to the affected topic and is a read-time confusion of the prototype object, not a mutation of Object.prototype (it is not prototype pollution). This issue affects phoenix: from 1.2.0-rc.0 before 1.5.15, from 1.6.0-rc.0 before 1.6.17, from 1.7.0-rc.0 before 1.7.24, and from 1.8.0-rc.0 before 1.8.9.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability in phoenixframework phoenix's JavaScript presence client occurs because the presence client uses a bare truthiness test (state[key]) instead of an own-property check when verifying if a presence already exists. Since presence keys are attacker-controlled, an attacker can use keys that match Object.prototype member names (e.g., __proto__, constructor) causing the lookup to return the built-in Object.prototype object. This leads to a TypeError when the code attempts to call .metas.map(...) on the prototype object. The exception prevents local state updates and onSync() callbacks, causing persistent denial of service on the presence channel topic for all viewers until the attacker leaves. The issue affects versions from 1.2.0 before 1.5.15, 1.6.0 before 1.6.17, 1.7.0 before 1.7.24, and 1.8.0 before 1.8.9.
Potential Impact
An attacker with ordinary channel access can cause a persistent client-side denial of service for all viewers of a presence channel topic by exploiting the improper presence key checks. This denial of service disrupts presence synchronization and prevents updates from being processed on the client side. The impact is limited to the affected channel topic and does not involve prototype pollution or mutation of Object.prototype. There is no indication of remote code execution or data exfiltration from this vulnerability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, applications should avoid using untrusted user-supplied keys as presence identifiers or implement own-property checks to safely handle presence keys. Monitoring for unusual presence keys that match Object.prototype properties may help detect exploitation attempts.
CVE-2026-56812: CWE-754 Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions in phoenixframework phoenix
Description
Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions vulnerability in phoenixframework phoenix (Presence JavaScript client) allows an attacker with ordinary channel access to cause a persistent client-side denial of service against every viewer of a presence channel topic. This vulnerability is associated with program files assets/js/phoenix/presence.js and program routines Presence.syncState and Presence.syncDiff. The Phoenix JavaScript presence client checks whether a presence already exists with a bare truthiness test (state[key]) instead of an own-property check. Presence keys can be attacker-controlled, because applications track presences under a username or id supplied by the client. A user who joins a channel choosing a key that is an Object.prototype member name (__proto__, constructor, toString, hasOwnProperty, and similar) makes that lookup return JavaScript's built-in Object.prototype instead of undefined. Because the prototype is truthy, the code treats it as an existing presence and reads .metas.map(...) off it, which throws an uncaught TypeError. The exception propagates out of the presence message handler, so the local state is never updated and onSync() never fires. Because the malicious key is tracked on the server, it is re-pushed on every presence update and keeps re-throwing, so presence sync stays broken for every viewer of that channel topic until the attacker leaves. Both syncState and syncDiff use the same unsafe existence-check pattern. The impact is limited to the affected topic and is a read-time confusion of the prototype object, not a mutation of Object.prototype (it is not prototype pollution). This issue affects phoenix: from 1.2.0-rc.0 before 1.5.15, from 1.6.0-rc.0 before 1.6.17, from 1.7.0-rc.0 before 1.7.24, and from 1.8.0-rc.0 before 1.8.9.
CVSS v4.0
Score 6.3medium
Affected software
pkg:hex/phoenixpkg:npm/phoenixcpe:2.3:a:phoenixframework:phoenix:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Run on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in phoenixframework phoenix's JavaScript presence client occurs because the presence client uses a bare truthiness test (state[key]) instead of an own-property check when verifying if a presence already exists. Since presence keys are attacker-controlled, an attacker can use keys that match Object.prototype member names (e.g., __proto__, constructor) causing the lookup to return the built-in Object.prototype object. This leads to a TypeError when the code attempts to call .metas.map(...) on the prototype object. The exception prevents local state updates and onSync() callbacks, causing persistent denial of service on the presence channel topic for all viewers until the attacker leaves. The issue affects versions from 1.2.0 before 1.5.15, 1.6.0 before 1.6.17, 1.7.0 before 1.7.24, and 1.8.0 before 1.8.9.
Potential Impact
An attacker with ordinary channel access can cause a persistent client-side denial of service for all viewers of a presence channel topic by exploiting the improper presence key checks. This denial of service disrupts presence synchronization and prevents updates from being processed on the client side. The impact is limited to the affected channel topic and does not involve prototype pollution or mutation of Object.prototype. There is no indication of remote code execution or data exfiltration from this vulnerability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, applications should avoid using untrusted user-supplied keys as presence identifiers or implement own-property checks to safely handle presence keys. Monitoring for unusual presence keys that match Object.prototype properties may help detect exploitation attempts.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- EEF
- Date Reserved
- 2026-06-23T12:29:02.507Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a4d2240c9d9e3dbe3707e8a
Added to database: 07/07/2026, 15:58:56 UTC
Last enriched: 07/07/2026, 16:13:26 UTC
Last updated: 07/07/2026, 16:49:43 UTC
Views: 5
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