Unauthorized File Access in npm CLI before before version 6.13.3
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. It fails to prevent access to folders outside of the intended node_modules folder through the bin field. A properly constructed entry in the package.json bin field would allow a package publisher to modify and/or gain access to arbitrary files on a user's system when the package is installed. This behavior is still possible through install scripts. This vulnerability bypasses a user using the --ignore-scripts install option.
- Published
- Dec 12, 2019
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 3.4% · 88th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-22
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Report tools
Action score
33
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 32 / 40 · 8.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 3.4%
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 8.1
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 7.7
- 0.4 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| npmjs | npm | cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:npm |
| opensuse | leap | cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap |
| oracle | graalvm | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| redhat | enterprise linux | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux |
| redhat | enterprise linux eus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- fedoraproject fedora31
- npmjs npmbefore 6.13.3
- opensuse leap15.1
- oracle graalvm19.3.0.2
- redhat enterprise linux8.0
- redhat enterprise linux eus8.1
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
npm cli
- < 6.13.3 and later · before 6.13.3affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-nodemon | before 1.18.3-1.module_el8.3.0+2047+b07ac28e | 1.18.3-1.module_el8.3.0+2047+b07ac28e |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-nodemon | before 1.18.3-1.module_el8.3.0+2023+d2377ea3 | 1.18.3-1.module_el8.3.0+2023+d2377ea3 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-packaging | before 17-3.module_el8.3.0+2023+d2377ea3 | 17-3.module_el8.3.0+2023+d2377ea3 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-packaging | before 17-3.module_el8.4.0+2521+c668cc9f | 17-3.module_el8.4.0+2521+c668cc9f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-packaging | before 17-3.module_el8.4.0+2224+b07ac28e | 17-3.module_el8.4.0+2224+b07ac28e |
| Debian:12 | npm | before 6.13.4+ds-2 | 6.13.4+ds-2 |
| npm | npm | before 6.13.3 | 6.13.3 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | nodejs8 | before 8.17.0-lp151.2.9.1 | 8.17.0-lp151.2.9.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs | before 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-debuginfo | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-debuginfo | before 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-debugsource | before 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-debugsource | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-devel | before 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-devel | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-devel-debuginfo | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-docs | before 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-docs | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-nodemon | before 0:1.18.3-1.module+el8.1.0+3369+37ae6a45 | 0:1.18.3-1.module+el8.1.0+3369+37ae6a45 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | nodejs-packaging | before 0:17-3.module+el8.1.0+3369+37ae6a45 | 0:17-3.module+el8.1.0+3369+37ae6a45 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | npm | before 1:6.13.4-1.12.14.1.1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 | 1:6.13.4-1.12.14.1.1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | npm | before 1:6.13.4-1.10.19.0.1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c | 1:6.13.4-1.10.19.0.1.module+el8.1.0+5726+6ed65f8c |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.0::appstream | nodejs | before 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.0.0+5738+1362a79c | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.0.0+5738+1362a79c |
+29
Same product
npmjs: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-43616The npm ci command in npm 7.x and 8.x through 8.1.3 proceeds with an installation even if dependency information in package-lock.json differ40Plan
- CVE-2022-29244npm packing does not respect root-level ignore files in workspaces31Monitor
- CVE-2018-7408An issue was discovered in an npm 5.7.0 2018-02-21 pre-release (marked as "next: 5.7.0" and therefore automatically installed by an "npm upg31Monitor
- CVE-2019-16777Arbitrary File Overwrite in npm CLI27Monitor
- CVE-2020-15095Sensitive information exposure through logs in npm cli17Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:nodejs-nodemon | 1.18.3-1.module_el8.3.0+2023+d2377ea3 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-packaging | 17-3.module_el8.4.0+2224+b07ac28e · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:npm | 6.13.4+ds-2 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| npm:npm | 6.13.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:nodejs8 | 8.17.0-lp151.2.9.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-debuginfo | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-debugsource | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-devel | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-devel-debuginfo | 1:10.19.0-1.module+el8.0.0+5738+1362a79c · Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.0::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-docs | 1:12.14.1-1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-nodemon | 0:1.18.3-1.module+el8.1.0+3369+37ae6a45 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nodejs-packaging | 0:17-3.module+el8.1.0+3369+37ae6a45 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:npm | 1:6.13.4-1.12.14.1.1.module+el8.1.0+5466+30f75629 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rh-nodejs10-nodejs | 0:10.19.0-1.el7 · Red Hat:rhel_software_collections:3::el7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rh-nodejs10-nodejs-debuginfo | 0:10.19.0-1.el7 · Red Hat:rhel_software_collections:3::el7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rh-nodejs10-nodejs-devel | 0:10.19.0-1.el7 · Red Hat:rhel_software_collections:3::el7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:nodejs-nodemon | 0:1.18.3-1.module+el8.3.0+101+f84c7154 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:nodejs-packaging | 0:17-3.module+el8.3.0+101+f84c7154 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:nodejs10 | 10.18.0-1.15.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:nodejs12 | 12.15.0-1.6.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:nodejs6 | 6.17.1-11.30.1 · SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:nodejs8 | 8.17.0-3.25.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
nvd-primary
Root cause
A user-supplied file name is joined with the allowed directory, but the result is never checked to confirm it is still inside that directory.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-22 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
const file = path.join(ROOT, req.query.name);res.sendFile(file);Fixed
const file = path.resolve(ROOT, req.query.name);if (!file.startsWith(ROOT + path.sep)) { return res.sendStatus(400);}res.sendFile(file);Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Path TraversalCAPEC-126likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Slashes and URL Encoding Combined to Bypass Validation LogicCAPEC-64likelihood: High · High
- Manipulating Web Input to File System CallsCAPEC-76likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Escaped Slashes in Alternate EncodingCAPEC-78likelihood: High · High
- Using Slashes in Alternate EncodingCAPEC-79likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00027.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2020:0330
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0573
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0579
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0597
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0602
- blog.npmjs.org/post/189618601100/binary-planting-with-the-npm-cli
- github.com/npm/cli/security/advisories/GHSA-x8qc-rrcw-4r46
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z36UKPO5F3PQ3Q2POMF5LEKXWAH5RUFP/
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.