# CVE-2022-37264: steal prototype pollution via optionName variable

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37264-steal-prototype-pollution-via-optionname-variable  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-09-16. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-37264 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2022-09-16

steal is a JavaScript module loader used in web applications to dynamically load and manage dependencies. A prototype pollution vulnerability allows an attacker to inject arbitrary properties into JavaScript objects, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of application behavior, or execution of malicious code within the application context.

Technologies: [steal (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/steal). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-37264 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2022-37264 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2022-37264?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 16 September 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** steal (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,last_affected=2.3.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-37264?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2022-37264 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-37264?** Check whether you run steal (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A prototype pollution vulnerability exists in steal version 2.3.0 and earlier, specifically in the optionName variable processing within main.js. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of object property assignments, allowing an attacker to inject properties into the Object prototype chain. An attacker with network access can craft malicious input to exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation can result in confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts depending on how the polluted properties are used by the application. Affected versions are all releases up to and including 2.3.0.

## Affected products

- steal steal up to and including 2.3.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2022-37264
- GHSA-8f8g-9j73-7p82

## Timeline

- 2022-09-16: disclosed
- 2022-09-14: other: vulnerability reported

## References

- [https://github.com/stealjs/steal/issues/1533](https://github.com/stealjs/steal/issues/1533)

## Related threats

- [steal inefficient regular expression complexity in babel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37259-steal-inefficient-regular-expression-complexity-in-babel)
- [steal prototype pollution via alias variable](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37265-steal-prototype-pollution-via-alias-variable)
- [steal prototype pollution in npm-convert.js](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37258-steal-prototype-pollution-in-npm-convert-js)
- [StealJS prototype pollution via babel.js](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37266-stealjs-prototype-pollution-via-babel-js)
- [steal prototype pollution via requestedVersion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37257-steal-prototype-pollution-via-requestedversion)