# CVE-2026-42334: Automattic Mongoose NoSQL injection via sanitizeFilter bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-42334-automattic-mongoose-nosql-injection-via-sanitizefilter-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-14. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-42334 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-05-14

Mongoose is a popular tool used by developers to connect Node.js applications to MongoDB databases. A security flaw in its data cleaning feature allows attackers to bypass safety checks by using specific database commands. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or allow attackers to bypass login screens if the application handles user input insecurely.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-42334 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-42334 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-42334?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 14 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** mongoose (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=6.13.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-42334?** Yes. mongoose (npm): upgrade to 6.13.9 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-42334 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-42334?** Check whether you run mongoose (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

- mongoose (npm): upgrade to 6.13.9 or later

  ```sh
  npm install mongoose@6.13.9
  ```


## Technical details

A NoSQL injection vulnerability exists in Mongoose's 'sanitizeFilter' mechanism. While the feature is designed to wrap query operators in '$eq' to neutralize them, it failed to include the '$nor' logical operator in its recursive sanitization routine. Because '$nor' accepts an array and arrays do not trigger the internal 'hasDollarKeys()' check, an attacker can inject malicious operators like '$ne', '$gt', or '$regex' within a '$nor' clause. This bypass is effective when applications pass unsanitized user-controlled objects (e.g., 'req.body') directly into query methods. The issue is resolved in versions 6.13.9, 7.8.9, 8.22.1, and 9.1.6.

## Affected products

- Automattic Mongoose < 6.13.9, 7.0.0 - 7.8.8, 8.0.0 - 8.22.0, 9.0.0 - 9.1.5

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-42334
- GHSA-wpg9-53fq-2r8h

## Timeline

- 2026-05-01: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-05-14: disclosed: CVE published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/security/advisories/GHSA-wpg9-53fq-2r8h](https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/security/advisories/GHSA-wpg9-53fq-2r8h)

## Related threats

- [Mongoose sanitizeFilter not applied on countDocuments](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125120-mongoose-sanitizefilter-not-applied-on-countdocuments)
- [Mongoose is a MongoDB object modeling tool designed to work in an asynchronous environment. From 6.0.0 until 6.13.12, 7.8.13, 8.24.7, and 9.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125119-mongoose-connection-level-sanitizefilter-not-applied)
- [Mongoose prototype pollution in Schema.prototype.virtual()](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125118-mongoose-prototype-pollution-via-schema-prototype-virtual)
- [Mongoose prototype pollution in object initialization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125117-mongoose-is-a-mongodb-object-modeling-tool-designed-to-work-in)
- [Mongoose discriminator key inheritance bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125116-mongoose-discriminator-key-values-matching-inherited-properties)