The use of `Module._load()` can bypass the policy mechanism and require modules outside of the policy.json definition for a given module.
The use of `Module._load()` can bypass the policy mechanism and require modules outside of the policy.json definition for a given module. This vulnerability affects all users using the experimental policy mechanism in all active release lines: 16.x, 18.x and, 20.x. Please note that at the time this CVE was issued, the policy is an experimental feature of Node.js.
- BDU:2023-04953
- ALSA-2023:5360
- ALSA-2023:5362
- ALSA-2023:5363
- ALSA-2023:5532
- DSA-5589-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13117-1
- RHSA-2023:5360
- RHSA-2023:5361
- RHSA-2023:5362
- RHSA-2023:5363
- RHSA-2023:5532
- RHSA-2023:5533
- RLSA-2023:5360
- RLSA-2023:5362
- RLSA-2023:5363
- RLSA-2023:5532
- SUSE-SU-2023:3306-1
- SUSE-SU-2023:3355-1
- SUSE-SU-2023:3356-1
- Published
- Aug 21, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 1.6% · 75th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-288
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Report tools
Action score
39
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 1.6%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| nodejs | node.js | cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js |
Using node.js? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (Node.js)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- nodejs node.js16.0.0 and later · up to 16.20.1 inclusive
- nodejs node.js18.0.0 and later · up to 18.17.0 inclusive
- nodejs node.js20.0.0 and later · up to 20.5.0 inclusive
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (hackerone). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
NodeJS Node
- 4.0 and later · before 4.*affected · semver
- 5.0 and later · before 5.*affected · semver
- 6.0 and later · before 6.*affected · semver
- 7.0 and later · before 7.*affected · semver
- 8.0 and later · before 8.*affected · semver
- 9.0 and later · before 9.*affected · semver
- 10.0 and later · before 10.*affected · semver
- 11.0 and later · before 11.*affected · semver
- 12.0 and later · before 12.*affected · semver
- 13.0 and later · before 13.*affected · semver
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 | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs | before 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-devel | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-devel | before 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-docs | before 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-docs | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-full-i18n | before 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-full-i18n | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-nodemon | before 3.0.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 3.0.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-nodemon | before 3.0.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d | 3.0.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-packaging | before 2021.06-4.module_el8.7.0+3343+ea2b7901 | 2021.06-4.module_el8.7.0+3343+ea2b7901 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-packaging | before 26-1.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 26-1.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | nodejs-packaging-bundler | before 2021.06-4.module_el8.7.0+3343+ea2b7901 | 2021.06-4.module_el8.7.0+3343+ea2b7901 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | npm | before 1:8.19.4-1.16.20.2.2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 | 1:8.19.4-1.16.20.2.2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | npm | before 1:9.6.7-1.18.17.1.1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d | 1:9.6.7-1.18.17.1.1.module_el8.8.0+3613+1ed8c91d |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs | before 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 | 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-devel | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-docs | before 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 | 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-docs | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-full-i18n | before 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 | 1:18.17.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-full-i18n | before 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 | 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-libs | before 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 | 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | nodejs-nodemon | before 3.0.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 | 3.0.1-1.module_el9.2.0+36+853e48f5 |
+96
Same product
nodejs: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2019-15605HTTP request smuggling in Node.js 10, 12, and 13 causes malicious payload delivery when transfer-encoding is malformed56Plan
- CVE-2021-22883Node.js before 10.24.0, 12.21.0, 14.16.0, and 15.10.0 is vulnerable to a denial of service attack when too many connection attempts with an 52Plan
- CVE-2021-22930Node.js before 16.6.0, 14.17.4, and 12.22.4 is vulnerable to a use after free attack where an attacker might be able to exploit the memory c50Plan
- CVE-2021-22931Node.js before 16.6.0, 14.17.4, and 12.22.4 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution, XSS, Application crashes due to missing input validation46Plan
- CVE-2020-8277A Node.js application that allows an attacker to trigger a DNS request for a host of their choice could trigger a Denial of Service in versi46Plan
- CVE-2017-14849Node.js 8.5.0 before 8.6.0 allows remote attackers to access unintended files, because a change to ".." handling was incompatible with the p46Plan
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NodeJS Node | 10.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 11.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 12.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 13.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 14.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 15.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 16.20.2 | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 17.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 18.17.1 | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 19.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 20.5.1 | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 4.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 5.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 6.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 7.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 8.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| NodeJS Node | 9.* | Vendor (CNA) |
| almalinux:nodejs | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-devel | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-docs | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-full-i18n | 1:16.20.2-2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-libs | 1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-nodemon | 3.0.1-1.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-packaging | 26-1.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:nodejs-packaging-bundler | 2021.06-4.module_el8.7.0+3343+ea2b7901 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:npm | 1:8.19.4-1.16.20.2.2.module_el8.8.0+3614+204d6f43 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:nodejs | 16.20.2-r0 · Alpine:v3.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:nodejs | 18.19.0+dfsg-6~deb12u1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:nodejs12 | 12.22.12-150200.4.50.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:nodejs14 | 14.21.3-150200.15.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
+25
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.
—
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
- CVE-2023-320046 days apartA vulnerability has been discovered in Node.js version 20, specifically within the experimental permission model.36Monitor
- CVE-2023-325592 days apartA privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the experimental policy mechanism in all active release lines: 16.x, 18.x and, 20.x.31Monitor
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- 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
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-288 · Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or ChannelCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
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)
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
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.