CVE-2019-16776
HighCVSS 7.7Summary
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.
Risk Assessment
A malicious npm package can overwrite or access arbitrary files on the victim's system during installation, potentially leading to code execution or compromise of the development environment.
Recommendation
Update npm CLI to version 6.13.3 or later. Install packages only from trusted sources and verify the bin field contents in package.json.
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-2019-16775High
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.
- 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 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.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS