`@npmcli/arborist`, the library that calculates dependency trees and manages the node_modules folder hierarchy for the npm command line interface, aims to guarantee that package dependency contracts will be met, and the extraction of package contents will always be performed into the expected folder. This is accomplished by extracting package contents into a project's `node_modules` folder. If the `node_modules` folder of the root project or any of its dependencies is somehow replaced with a symbolic link, it could allow Arborist to write package dependencies to any arbitrary location on the file system. Note that symbolic links contained within package artifact contents are filtered out, so another means of creating a `node_modules` symbolic link would have to be employed. 1. A `preinstall` script could replace `node_modules` with a symlink. (This is prevented by using `--ignore-scripts`.) 2. An attacker could supply the target with a git repository, instructing them to run `npm install --ignore-scripts` in the root. This may be successful, because `npm install --ignore-scripts` is typically not capable of making changes outside of the project directory, so it may be deemed safe. This is patched in @npmcli/arborist 2.8.2 which is included in npm v7.20.7 and above. For more information including workarounds please see the referenced GHSA-gmw6-94gg-2rc2.
Published 2021-08-31 17:15:08
Updated 2022-10-25 18:03:10
Source GitHub, Inc.
View at NVD,   CVE.org

Products affected by CVE-2021-39135

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2021-39135

0.30%
Probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days EPSS Score History
~ 50 %
Percentile, the proportion of vulnerabilities that are scored at or less

CVSS scores for CVE-2021-39135

Base Score Base Severity CVSS Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Score Source First Seen
4.4
MEDIUM AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
3.4
6.4
NIST
7.8
HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1.8
5.9
NIST
8.2
HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
1.8
5.8
GitHub, Inc.

CWE ids for CVE-2021-39135

  • The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
    Assigned by: nvd@nist.gov (Secondary)
  • The product, when opening a file or directory, does not sufficiently account for when the file is a symbolic link that resolves to a target outside of the intended control sphere. This could allow an attacker to cause the product to operate on unauthorized files.
    Assigned by: security-advisories@github.com (Primary)

References for CVE-2021-39135

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