npm CLI up to 6.13.4 Install Script path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in npm CLI up to 6.13.4. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component Install Script. Such manipulation leads to path traversal. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2019-16777. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in npm CLI up to 6.13.4 (Software Library). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown functionality of the component Install Script. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.4 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Overwrite. It fails to prevent existing globally-installed binaries to be overwritten by other package installations. For example, if a package was installed globally and created a serve binary, any subsequent installs of packages that also create a serve binary would overwrite the previous serve binary. This behavior is still allowed in local installations and also through install scripts. This vulnerability bypasses a user using the --ignore-scripts install option.

The weakness was released 12/13/2019 (GitHub Repository). The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2019-16777 since 09/24/2019. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack may be launched remotely. The successful exploitation needs a simple authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1006.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 253271 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2019-16777), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (253271). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-147175 and VDB-147174. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Software Library

Name

• npm CLI

Version

• 6.13.0
• 6.13.1
• 6.13.2
• 6.13.3
• 6.13.4

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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