CVE-2021-43616
What it is
The npm ci command in npm 7.x and 8.x through 8.1.3 proceeds with an installation even if dependency information in package-lock.json differs from package.json. This behavior is inconsistent with the documentation, and makes it easier for attackers to install malware that was supposed to have been blocked by an exact version match requirement in package-lock.json. NOTE: The npm team believes this is not a vulnerability. It would require someone to socially engineer package.json which has different dependencies than package-lock.json. That user would have to have file system or write access to change dependencies. The npm team states preventing malicious actors from socially engineering or gaining file system access is outside the scope of the npm CLI.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- Exploit odds
- 2.6% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 2.6% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 9.0 CRITICAL (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 2.6% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-345
- Record status
- Modified
Affected
- Npmjs Npm ≤ 7.24.2
- Npmjs Npm ≤ 8.1.3
- Netapp Next Generation Application Programming Interface
- Fedoraproject Fedora 35
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.0
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2021-43616.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2021-43616. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v7/commands/npm-ci
- https://github.com/npm/cli/commit/457e0ae61bbc55846f5af44afa4066921923490f
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v7/commands/npm-ci
- https://github.com/npm/cli/commit/457e0ae61bbc55846f5af44afa4066921923490f
References
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v7/commands/npm-ci
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-ci
- https://github.com/icatalina/CVE-2021-43616
- https://github.com/npm/cli/commit/457e0ae61bbc55846f5af44afa4066921923490f
- https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/2701
- https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/2701#issuecomment-972900511
- https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/2701#issuecomment-979054224
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NXNVFKOF5ZYH5NIRWHKN6O6UBCHDV6FE/
- https://medium.com/cider-sec/this-time-we-were-lucky-85c0dcac94a0
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211210-0002/
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v7/commands/npm-ci
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-ci
- https://github.com/icatalina/CVE-2021-43616
- https://github.com/npm/cli/commit/457e0ae61bbc55846f5af44afa4066921923490f
- https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/2701
- https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/2701#issuecomment-972900511
- https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/2701#issuecomment-979054224
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NXNVFKOF5ZYH5NIRWHKN6O6UBCHDV6FE/
- https://medium.com/cider-sec/this-time-we-were-lucky-85c0dcac94a0
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211210-0002/