What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-21538?

CVE-2024-21538 has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.7 (High). CVSS vector: 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:P. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.1%.

Which versions of Node.js are affected by CVE-2024-21538?

Alpine Linux: npm fixed in 10.9.1-r0. A patch is available.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-21538?

Yes, a patch is available for CVE-2024-21538. Update the affected software to the latest version immediately.

Node.js CVE-2024-21538

HIGH

Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity (ReDoS) (CWE-1333)

N/A vendor:alpine

Denial Of Service Node.js

7.7

CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: vendor:alpine

View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness

CWE

CWE-1333

ASVS 5.0

V2 - Validation and Business Logic Regex complexity limits

MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Impact

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).

Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisCVE.org

Alpine Linux: npm fixed in 10.9.1-r0

Affected Packages

npm cross-spawn fix: 6.0.6, 7.0.5

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in npm

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (vendor:alpine) PRIMARY 7.7 HIGH

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:P

Primary rating from Vendor (vendor:alpine) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: vendor:alpine

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Attack Requirements

None

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Vulnerable system: Confidentiality

None

Vulnerable system: Integrity

None

Vulnerable system: Availability

High

Subsequent system: Confidentiality

None

Subsequent system: Integrity

None

Subsequent system: Availability

None

Lifecycle Timeline

CVSS changed

Jul 28, 2026 - 16:22 NVD

7.7 (HIGH)

CVE Published

May 27, 2026 - 22:45 nvd

MEDIUM

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.1%

Top 79% exploitable

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

GitHub

VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 0.1%

Patch available Yes

Active threat No

Deciding rule

HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Yes

Human Impact· derived

Medium

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +38

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Denial of Service MEDIUM

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

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References

Advisories & patches

ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/283499 REF https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/commit/5ff3a07d9add449021d806e45c4168203aa833ff REF https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/commit/640d391fde65388548601d95abedccc12943374f REF https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/pull/160 REF https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-ORGWEBJARSNPM-8366349 REF https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-CROSSSPAWN-8303230

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