CVE-2022-46164
Account takeover via prototype vulnerability
NodeBB is an open source Node.js based forum software. Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.6.1. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may cherry-pick commit 48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Account takeover via prototype vulnerability
NodeBB is an open source Node.js based forum software. Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.6.1. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may cherry-pick commit 48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
- Record
CVE-2022-46164- CVSS 3.1
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-665
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-7733
NodeBB is an open source Node.js based forum software. Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.6.1. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may cherry-pick commit 48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
- Record
EUVD-2022-7733- CVSS 3.1
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-rf3g-v8p5-p675
NodeBB vulnerable to account takeover via prototype vulnerability
Impact
Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts.
Patches
Patched in 2.6.1
Workarounds
Site maintainers can cherry-pick https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/commit/48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
Discuss it on our community forum Email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-rf3g-v8p5-p675- CVSS 3.1
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-665
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
NodeBB is an open source Node.js based forum software. Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.6.1. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may cherry-pick commit 48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
- Record
CVE-2022-46164- CVSS 3.1
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-665
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Account takeover via prototype vulnerability
NodeBB is an open source Node.js based forum software. Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.6.1. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may cherry-pick commit 48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
- Record
CVE-2022-46164- CVSS 3.1
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-665
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-rf3g-v8p5-p675
NodeBB vulnerable to account takeover via prototype vulnerability
Impact
Due to a plain object with a prototype being used in socket.io message handling a specially crafted payload can be used to impersonate other users and takeover accounts.
Patches
Patched in 2.6.1
Workarounds
Site maintainers can cherry-pick https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/commit/48d143921753914da45926cca6370a92ed0c46b8 into their codebase to patch the exploit.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
Discuss it on our community forum Email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-rf3g-v8p5-p675- CVSS 3.1
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-665
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
nodebbnpm |
before 2.6.1 | 2.6.1 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | stephenbradshaw/CVE-2022-46164-poc | 2023-01-04 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-46164 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.4) in Nodebb, published December 5, 2022. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 47.4%, the 98th percentile. Fixed in nodebb 2.6.1.
References
github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/security/advisories/GHSA-rf3g-v8p5-p675
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-46164