Node.js CVE-2021-42740
CRITICALSeverity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
1Blast Radius
ecosystem impact- 19 npm packages depend on shell-quote (10 direct, 9 indirect)
Ecosystem-wide dependent count for version 1.6.3.
DescriptionNVD
The shell-quote package before 1.7.3 for Node.js allows command injection. An attacker can inject unescaped shell metacharacters through a regex designed to support Windows drive letters. If the output of this package is passed to a real shell as a quoted argument to a command with exec(), an attacker can inject arbitrary commands. This is because the Windows drive letter regex character class is {A-z] instead of the correct {A-Za-z]. Several shell metacharacters exist in the space between capital letter Z and lower case letter a, such as the backtick character.
AnalysisAI
The shell-quote package before 1.7.3 for Node.js allows command injection. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Technical ContextAI
This vulnerability is classified as Command Injection (CWE-77), which allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands into system command execution. The shell-quote package before 1.7.3 for Node.js allows command injection. An attacker can inject unescaped shell metacharacters through a regex designed to support Windows drive letters. If the output of this package is passed to a real shell as a quoted argument to a command with exec(), an attacker can inject arbitrary commands. This is because the Windows drive letter regex character class is {A-z] instead of the correct {A-Za-z]. Several shell metacharacters exist in the space between capital letter Z and lower case letter a, such as the backtick character. Affected products include: Shell-Quote Project Shell-Quote. Version information: before 1.7.3.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Use parameterized APIs, avoid shell execution, validate input with strict allowlists.
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Same weakness CWE-77 – Command Injection
View allSame technique Command Injection
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today