# CVE-2026-113666: ApostropheCMS db-connect prototype pollution denial of service

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113666-apostrophecms-authenticated-projection-exclusion-prototype  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-20. Updated: 2026-10-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-113666 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.1 · Published 2026-10-20

ApostropheCMS is a content management system that allows users with editing roles to manage website content through REST APIs. An authenticated user can craft a malicious REST request that deletes shared methods from JavaScript's core runtime objects, causing the entire application process to crash and become unavailable to all users until restarted. This affects sites using SQLite or PostgreSQL databases, not the default MongoDB database.

Technologies: [apostrophe (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/apostrophe). Vendors: [ApostropheCMS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apostrophecms), [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-113666 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-113666 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-113666?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.1, published 20 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** ApostropheCMS @Apostrophecms/Db-Connect 1.0.0 through 1.0.2; @apostrophecms/db-connect (npm) < 1.1.0, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.1.0; apostrophe (npm) < 4.33.0, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=4.33.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-113666?** Yes. @apostrophecms/db-connect (npm): upgrade to 1.1.0 or later; apostrophe (npm): upgrade to 4.33.0 or later. Until then: Restrict REST API access to the piece-type endpoints to fully trusted roles only, or migrate to the default MongoDB adapter which delegates projections to the real MongoDB driver and is not affected by this vulnerability. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-113666 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-113666?** Check whether you run ApostropheCMS @Apostrophecms/Db-Connect, @apostrophecms/db-connect (npm) or apostrophe (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.

## How to fix

- @apostrophecms/db-connect (npm): upgrade to 1.1.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install @apostrophecms/db-connect@1.1.0
  ```

- apostrophe (npm): upgrade to 4.33.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install apostrophe@4.33.0
  ```


Restrict REST API access to the piece-type endpoints to fully trusted roles only, or migrate to the default MongoDB adapter which delegates projections to the real MongoDB driver and is not affected by this vulnerability.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a prototype pollution flaw in the `unsetNestedField` helper function within the db-connect package's in-memory MongoDB emulation. When processing exclusion projections on REST GET requests, the function accepts attacker-controlled dotted field paths (e.g., `constructor.prototype.hasOwnProperty`) without segment validation and resolves them to modify shared prototype objects. Any authenticated user with `view-draft` permission (all editors and contributors) can trigger this on SQLite or PostgreSQL adapters by sending a crafted projection query, permanently corrupting the shared runtime state for the entire Node process.

## Affected products

- ApostropheCMS @apostrophecms/db-connect 1.0.0 through 1.0.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-113666
- GHSA-j5rq-xfvr-p969

## Timeline

- 2026-10-20: disclosed

## Related threats

- [ApostropheCMS unauthenticated file upload in import routes](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113711-apostrophecms-is-an-open-source-node-js-content-management)
- [ApostropheCMS password-change endpoint lacks attempt throttling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113710-apostrophecms-no-attempt-throttling-on-authenticated-password)
- [ApostropheCMS page REST API authorization bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113670-apostrophecms-page-rest-api-authorization-bypass)
- [ApostropheCMS cross-domain session token in URL confers session takeover](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113669-apostrophecms-cross-domain-session-token-in-url-confers-session)
- [ApostropheCMS REST route authorization bypass in locales endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113668-apostrophecms-id-locales-rest-route-omits-the-public-api)
