Xml2js is a popular npm package designed for converting XML documents into JavaScript objects, making it easier for developers to work with XML data within their JavaScript applications. Comparing versions 0.4.12 and 0.4.13 reveals subtle but important refinements. Both versions share the same core dependencies: "sax" for parsing XML and "xmlbuilder" for constructing XML. The development dependencies, used for testing and documentation, show minor version bumps. Notably, coffee-script is updated from version 1.9.0 to >=1.10.0, potentially catering to features or fixes introduced in later coffee-script releases. The author's website URL also sees a minor change from "http" to "https", reflecting a move towards secure communication.
The primary difference lies in the release dates, with version 0.4.13 being released approximately a month after 0.4.12. This indicates that version 0.4.13 might incorporate bug fixes, performance improvements, or minor feature enhancements identified after the 0.4.12 release. For developers, this means that using the newer version, 0.4.13, is generally recommended to benefit from the latest improvements and fixes. Always check the changelog or release notes on the project repository to understand the specific changes between these versions and whether they address any issues you might have encountered in older versions. Choosing the latest stable version ensures you're working with the most refined and up-to-date tool for parsing XML in your JavaScript projects.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 0.4.13 of the package
xml2js is vulnerable to prototype pollution
xml2js versions before 0.5.0 allows an external attacker to edit or add new properties to an object. This is possible because the application does not properly validate incoming JSON keys, thus allowing the __proto__ property to be edited.
