Node.js up to 20.11.0/21.6.0 Experimental Permission Model path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Node.js up to 20.11.0/21.6.0 and classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the component Experimental Permission Model. Such manipulation leads to path traversal. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-21891. Local access is required to approach this attack. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Node.js up to 20.11.0/21.6.0 (JavaScript Library). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown code of the component Experimental Permission Model. 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:

Node.js depends on multiple built-in utility functions to normalize paths provided to node:fs functions, which can be overwitten with user-defined implementations leading to filesystem permission model bypass through path traversal attack. This vulnerability affects all users using the experimental permission model in Node.js 20 and Node.js 21. Please note that at the time this CVE was issued, the permission model is an experimental feature of Node.js.

The weakness was disclosed 02/20/2024. The advisory is shared for download at hackerone.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2024-21891 since 01/03/2024. 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 216256 (Oracle Linux 8 : nodejs:20 (ELSA-2025-1351)), 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 (216256). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• JavaScript Library

Name

• Node.js

Version

• 20.0
• 20.1
• 20.2
• 20.3
• 20.4
• 20.5
• 20.6
• 20.7
• 20.8
• 20.9
• 20.10
• 20.11.0
• 21.0
• 21.1
• 21.2
• 21.3
• 21.4
• 21.5
• 21.6.0

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion