# CVE-2026-44490: Axios prototype pollution gadgets in merge functions

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44490-axios-prototype-pollution-gadgets-in-merge-functions  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-11. Updated: 2026-06-11  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44490 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.8 · Published 2026-06-11

Axios is a widely used tool for making web requests in JavaScript applications. A vulnerability exists where Axios can be manipulated into sending unauthorized web headers or crashing entirely if another part of the application has already been compromised by a 'prototype pollution' attack. This could allow an attacker to disrupt service or interfere with how the application communicates with other web services.

Technologies: [Axios](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/axios), [axios (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/npm-axios). Vendors: [Axios](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/axios), [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44490 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44490 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44490?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.8, published 11 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Axios < 0.32.0, < 1.16.0; axios (npm) SEMVER:introduced=1.0.0,fixed=1.16.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44490?** Yes. axios (npm): upgrade to 1.16.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44490 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44490?** Check whether you run Axios or axios (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

- axios (npm): upgrade to 1.16.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install axios@1.16.0
  ```


## Technical details

Axios contains two read-side prototype pollution gadgets in its configuration merging logic. The first gadget in 'lib/utils.js' uses a plain object accumulator during merges, allowing polluted properties from Object.prototype to be copied into outbound HTTP headers, potentially leading to header injection or response suppression. The second gadget in 'lib/core/mergeConfig.js' uses a plain-object literal as a property descriptor; if Object.prototype.get or .set is polluted with a non-function value, 'Object.defineProperty' throws a TypeError, causing a synchronous crash of every Axios request. These vulnerabilities require a pre-existing prototype pollution vulnerability in the environment (e.g., via an upstream dependency like lodash) to be exploitable. The issue is fixed in versions 0.32.0 and 1.16.0 by using null-prototype objects.

## Affected products

- Axios Axios < 0.32.0, < 1.16.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-44490
- GHSA-898c-q2cr-xwhg

## Timeline

- 2026-05-29: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-898c-q2cr-xwhg published
- 2026-06-11: disclosed: CVE-2026-44490 published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-898c-q2cr-xwhg](https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-898c-q2cr-xwhg)

## Related threats

- [Axios NO_PROXY CIDR notation bypass in Node.js adapter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101899-axios-cidr-form-no-proxy-entries-are-ignored-causing-proxy)
- [Axios prototype pollution in ToFormData](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101909-axios-is-a-promise-based-http-client-for-the-browser-and-node-js)
- [Axios fetch adapter header injection via prototype pollution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101908-axios-is-a-promise-based-http-client-for-the-browser-and-node-js)
- [Axios fetch adapter maxRedirects bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101907-axios-is-a-promise-based-http-client-for-the-browser-and-node-js)
- [Axios ReDoS in shouldBypassProxy regular expression](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101906-axios-is-a-promise-based-http-client-for-the-browser-and-node-js)