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 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.
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-gmw6-94gg-2rc2 |
- 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-gmw6-94gg-2rc2
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-gmw6-94gg-2rc2 @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-2021-39135
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gmw6-94gg-2rc2
References
Patch 2
Advisory 2
Sources
- CVE-2021-39135 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-39135 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gmw6-94gg-2rc2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-39135 · 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