CVE-2026-44494 axios CVE debrief

Who should care

Developers and administrators using Axios versions 1.0.0 to 1.16.0 should assess exposure and update to version 1.16.0 or later. IT security teams should monitor for suspicious HTTP traffic and implement additional security measures to prevent prototype pollution.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-44494 Axios Prototype Pollution vulnerability allows for Man-in-the-Middle attacks, enabling interception, reading, and modification of HTTP traffic. High priority for systems using Axios versions 1.0.0 to 1.16.0; verify and update to 1.16.0 or later.

• Intercepting and reading sensitive HTTP traffic
• Modifying HTTP traffic, including authentication credentials
• Escalating prototype pollution into a full Man-in-the-Middle attack
• Potential for unauthorized access and data breaches

Technical summary

The Axios library, a promise-based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js, is vulnerable to a Prototype Pollution 'Gadget' attack. This allows any Object.prototype pollution in the application's dependency tree to be escalated into a full Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, enabling the interception, reading, and modification of all HTTP traffic, including authentication credentials. The vulnerability exists in versions from 1.0.0 to before 1.16.0 and is fixed in version 1.16.0.

Defensive priority

High priority for systems using Axios versions 1.0.0 to 1.16.0; verify and update to 1.16.0 or later.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify Axios version and update to 1.16.0 or later if vulnerable
• Review and monitor HTTP traffic for suspicious activity
• Implement additional security measures to prevent prototype pollution
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up
• Plan vendor-supported updates or mitigations through normal change control where exposure is confirmed

Evidence notes

Axios library vulnerability allows for prototype pollution, which can be escalated into a full Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. This vulnerability is fixed in version 1.16.0. The Axios library is vulnerable to a Prototype Pollution 'Gadget' attack that allows any Object.prototype pollution in the application's dependency tree to be escalated into a full Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack — intercepting, reading, and modifying all HTTP traffic including authentication credentials. The HTTP adapter at lib/adapters/http.js:670 reads config

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.