pnpm: Binary ZIP extraction allows arbitrary file write via path traversal (Zip Slip)
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-426.
Summary
pnpm is a package manager. Prior to version 10.28.1, a path traversal vulnerability in pnpm's binary fetcher allows malicious packages to write files outside the intended extraction directory. The vulnerability has two attack vectors: (1) Malicious ZIP entries containing `../` or absolute paths that escape the extraction root via AdmZip's `extractAllTo`, and (2) The `BinaryResolution.prefix` field is concatenated into the extraction path without validation, allowing a crafted prefix like `../../evil` to redirect extracted files outside `targetDir`. The issue impacts all pnpm users who install packages with binary assets, users who configure custom Node.js binary locations and CI/CD pipelines that auto-install binary dependencies. It can lead to overwriting config files, scripts, or other sensitive files leading to RCE. Version 10.28.1 contains a patch.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pnpm | pnpm | before 10.28.1 | 10.28.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | pnpm (npm) | before 10.28.1 | 10.28.1 | Patch available | GHSA-6pfh-p556-v868 |
- pnpm Vendorpnpm Affected before 10.28.1 Fixed in 10.28.1 Patch available CNA
- pnpm (npm) Vendor— Affected before 10.28.1 Fixed in 10.28.1 Patch available GHSA-6pfh-p556-v868
Remediation
- Fix · CNA pnpm (pnpm) Fixed in 10.28.1
- Fix · GHSA-6pfh-p556-v868 pnpm (npm) Fixed in 10.28.1 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-23888
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6pfh-p556-v868
References
More Pnpm vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-42715 pnpm v10+ Bypass "Dependency lifecycle scripts execution disabled by default" CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-19086 pnpm incorrectly parses tar archives relative to specification CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-40212 pnpm: Project env lockfile can short-circuit package-manager resolution and execute lockfile-selected pnpm bytes CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-40211 pnpm: Repository-controlled configDependencies can select a pacquet native install engine CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-40042 pnpm: manifest identity spoof satisfies allowBuilds and runs attacker lifecycle CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-36842 pnpm: Transitive dependency alias path traversal allows project path override via symlink replacement CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-23888 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-23888 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6pfh-p556-v868 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-23888 · 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