CVE-2019-16776
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (3.42%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. It fails to prevent access to folders outside of the intended node_modules folder through the bin field. A properly constructed entry in the package.json bin field would allow a package publisher to modify and/or gain access to arbitrary files on a user's system when the package is installed. This behavior is still possible through install scripts. This vulnerability bypasses a user using the --ignore-scripts install option.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- EPSS
- 3.42% probability · 89th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-22
- Affected
- npmjs/npm · opensuse/leap · oracle/graalvm · fedoraproject/fedora · redhat/enterprise linux · redhat/enterprise linux eus
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
EPSS 3.4% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00027.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2020:0330Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0573Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0579Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0597Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0602Third Party Advisory
- https://blog.npmjs.org/post/189618601100/binary-planting-with-the-npm-cliThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/npm/cli/security/advisories/GHSA-x8qc-rrcw-4r46Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z36UKPO5F3PQ3Q2POMF5LEKXWAH5RUFP/
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00027.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2020:0330Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0573Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0579Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0597Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0602Third Party Advisory
- https://blog.npmjs.org/post/189618601100/binary-planting-with-the-npm-cliThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/npm/cli/security/advisories/GHSA-x8qc-rrcw-4r46Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z36UKPO5F3PQ3Q2POMF5LEKXWAH5RUFP/
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.htmlThird Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.