UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following in @npmcli/arborist
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
`@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, in part, accomplished by resolving dependency specifiers defined in `package.json` manifests for dependencies with a specific name, and nesting folders to resolve conflicting dependencies. When multiple dependencies differ only in the case of their name, Arborist's internal data structure saw them as separate items that could coexist within the same level in the `node_modules` hierarchy. However, on case-insensitive file systems (such as macOS and Windows), this is not the case. Combined with a symlink dependency such as `file:/some/path`, this allowed an attacker to create a situation in which arbitrary contents could be written to any location on the filesystem. For example, a package `pwn-a` could define a dependency in their `package.json` file such as `"foo": "file:/some/path"`. Another package, `pwn-b` could define a dependency such as `FOO: "file:foo.tgz"`. On case-insensitive file systems, if `pwn-a` was installed, and then `pwn-b` was installed afterwards, the contents of `foo.tgz` would be written to `/some/path`, and any existing contents of `/some/path` would be removed. Anyone using npm v7.20.6 or earlier on a case-insensitive filesystem is potentially affected. This is patched in @npmcli/arborist 2.8.2 which is included in npm v7.20.7 and above.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| npm | arborist | before 2.8.2 | 2.8.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | @npmcli/arborist (npm) | before 2.8.2 | 2.8.2 | Patch available | GHSA-2h3h-q99f-3fhc |
- arborist Vendornpm Affected before 2.8.2 Fixed in 2.8.2 Patch available CNA
- @npmcli/arborist (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2.8.2 Fixed in 2.8.2 Patch available GHSA-2h3h-q99f-3fhc
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:arborist:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | before 2.8.2 | Vulnerable | Npmjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:npm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 7.20.7 | Running on | Npmjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm:20.3.3:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | 20.3.3 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm:21.2.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | 21.2.0 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_infrastructure_network_services:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.0.1.1 | Vulnerable | Siemens |
- cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:arborist:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions before 2.8.2 Vulnerable ·Npmjs
- cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:npm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 7.20.7 Running on ·Npmjs
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm:20.3.3:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 20.3.3 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm:21.2.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 21.2.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_infrastructure_network_services:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.0.1.1 Vulnerable ·Siemens
Remediation
- Fix · CNA arborist (npm) Fixed in 2.8.2
- Fix · GHSA-2h3h-q99f-3fhc @npmcli/arborist (npm) Fixed in 2.8.2 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat Software Collections
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-39134
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2h3h-q99f-3fhc
References
Patch 2
Advisory 2
Sources
- CVE-2021-39134 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-39134 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2h3h-q99f-3fhc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-39134 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences