CVE-2019-16775
HighCVSS 7.7Summary
npm CLI versions prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to Arbitrary File Write. Packages can create symlinks to files outside node_modules via the bin field in package.json during installation, bypassing the --ignore-scripts option.
Risk Assessment
A malicious package publisher could overwrite or create symlinks to arbitrary files on the user's system, potentially leading to code execution or system compromise.
Recommendation
Update npm CLI to version 6.13.3 or later. Install packages only from trusted sources and verify their contents.
Other vulnerabilities in npm CLI
See all- CVE-2020-15095Medium
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.14.6 are vulnerable to an information exposure vulnerability through log files. The CLI supports URLs like "<protocol>://[<user>[:<password>]@]<hostname>[:<port>][:][/]<path>". The password value is not redacted and is printed to stdout and also to any generated log files.
- CVE-2019-16777High
The npm CLI versions prior to 6.13.4 are vulnerable to Arbitrary File Overwrite. It fails to prevent existing globally-installed binaries from being overwritten by other package installations, even with the --ignore-scripts option.
- CVE-2019-16776High
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. Through the bin field in package.json, a package publisher can access folders outside the intended node_modules directory and modify arbitrary files on a user's system during installation. This vulnerability bypasses the --ignore-scripts install option.
- CVE-2016-3956High
The CLI in npm before 2.15.1 and 3.x before 3.8.3, as used in Node.js 0.10 before 0.10.44, 0.12 before 0.12.13, 4 before 4.4.2, and 5 before 5.10.0, includes bearer tokens with arbitrary requests. This allows remote HTTP servers to obtain sensitive information by reading Authorization headers.
- CVE-2026-0775High
A vulnerability in npm cli allows local attackers to escalate privileges due to incorrect permission assignment when loading modules from an unsecured location. This can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of a target user.
Original NVD description (English source)
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. It is possible for packages to create symlinks to files outside of thenode_modules folder through the bin field upon installation. A properly constructed entry in the package.json bin field would allow a package publisher to create a symlink pointing 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.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS