Vulnerability Description
`@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.
CVSS Score
HIGH
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Npmjs | Arborist | < 2.8.2 |
| Npmjs | Npm | < 7.20.7 |
| Oracle | Graalvm | 20.3.3 |
| Siemens | Sinec Infrastructure Network Services | < 1.0.1.1 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdfPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/npm/arborist/security/advisories/GHSA-gmw6-94gg-2rc2Third Party Advisory
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/%40npmcli/arborist
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.htmlPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdfPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/npm/arborist/security/advisories/GHSA-gmw6-94gg-2rc2Third Party Advisory
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/%40npmcli/arborist
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.htmlPatchThird Party Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-39135?
CVE-2021-39135 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.2 (HIGH). `@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 w...
How severe is CVE-2021-39135?
CVE-2021-39135 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.2/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2021-39135?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Npmjs Arborist, Npmjs Npm, Oracle Graalvm, Siemens Sinec Infrastructure Network Services.