#VU103225 Memory leak in Node.js - CVE-2025-23085

Vulnerability identifier: #VU103225

Vulnerability risk: Medium

CVSSv4.0: 6.6 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Green]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-23085

CWE-ID: CWE-401

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Node.js
Server applications / Web servers

Vendor: Node.js Foundation

Description
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to perform DoS attack on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due memory leak when a remote peer abruptly closes the socket without sending a GOAWAY notification. A remote attacker can force the application to leak memory and perform denial of service attack.

Mitigation
Install updates 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?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

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