#VU103223 Path traversal in Node.js - CVE-2025-23084

Vulnerability identifier: #VU103223

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 5.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-23084

CWE-ID: CWE-22

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Node.js
Server applications / Web servers

Vendor: Node.js Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to input validation error in path.join API when processing drive names in the Windows environment. A local user with ability to alter Windows drive names can escalate privileges on the system.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Node.js: 17.0.0 - 17.0.1, 17.1.0, 17.2.0, 17.3.0 - 17.3.1, 17.4.0, 17.5.0, 17.6.0, 17.7.0 - 17.7.2, 17.8.0, 17.9.0 - 17.9.1, 18.0.0, 18.1.0 - 18.19.1, 18.2.0 - 18.20.5, 18.3.0, 18.4.0, 18.5.0, 18.6.0, 18.7.0, 18.8.0, 18.9.0, 18.9.1, 19.0.0, 19.0.1, 19.1.0, 19.2.0, 19.3.0, 19.4.0, 19.5.0, 19.6.0, 19.6.1, 19.7.0, 19.8.0, 19.8.1, 19.9.0, 20.0.0, 20.1.0, 20.2.0, 20.3.0, 20.3.1, 20.4.0, 20.5.0, 20.5.1, 20.6.0, 20.6.1, 20.7.0, 20.8.0, 20.8.1, 20.9.0, 20.10.0, 20.11.0 - 20.11.1, 20.12.0 - 20.12.2, 20.13.0 - 20.13.1, 20.14.0, 20.15.0 - 20.15.1, 20.16.0, 20.17.0, 20.18.0 - 20.18.1, 21.0.0, 21.1.0, 21.2.0, 21.3.0, 21.4.0, 21.5.0, 21.6.0 - 21.6.2, 21.7.0 - 21.7.3, 22.0.0, 22.1.0 - 22.13.0, 22.2.0, 22.3.0, 22.4.0 - 22.4.1, 22.5.0 - 22.5.1, 22.6.0, 22.7.0, 22.8.0, 22.9.0, 23.0.0, 23.1.0, 23.2.0, 23.3.0, 23.4.0, 23.5.0, 23.6.0

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External links
https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/january-2025-security-releases

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.