Lodash.merge, a standalone module offering the _.merge method from the popular Lodash library, saw a minor version bump from 4.5.1 to 4.6.0. While both versions share the same foundational description – exporting the _.merge functionality for targeted use – subtle differences exist that might intrigue developers. Both versions are licensed under the permissive MIT license and originate from the official Lodash repository on GitHub, ensuring a consistent and reliable source. The author remains John-David Dalton, a key contributor to Lodash, guaranteeing continuity in coding standards and expertise.
The key distinction lies in the release date: version 4.6.0 was published on August 13, 2016, whereas version 4.5.1 was released on July 31, 2016. This roughly two-week gap suggests that version 4.6.0 likely incorporates bug fixes, performance improvements, or minor feature enhancements that weren't present in 4.5.1. Developers always want to stay aligned to bug fixes and improvements.
For developers considering which version to use, opting for the newer 4.6.0 is generally recommended. While the changes may be incremental, leveraging the latest stable version minimizes the risk of encountering known issues already addressed in subsequent releases. The tarball URLs point to the specific distribution packages on npm, allowing for easy installation via npm install lodash.merge@4.6.0 or npm install lodash.merge@4.5.1, depending on the desired version. Both versions offer a convenient way to utilize Lodash's powerful merge functionality without importing the entire library, leading to smaller bundle sizes and improved application performance.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 4.6.0 of the package
Prototype Pollution in lodash.merge
Versions of lodash.merge before 4.6.1 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution. The function 'merge' may allow a malicious user to modify the prototype of Object via __proto__ causing the addition or modification of an existing property that will exist on all objects.
Update to version 4.6.1 or later.
Prototype Pollution in lodash.merge
Versions of lodash.merge before 4.6.2 are vulnerable to prototype pollution. The function merge may allow a malicious user to modify the prototype of Object via {constructor: {prototype: {...}}} causing the addition or modification of an existing property that will exist on all objects.
Update to version 4.6.2 or later.
