Pnpm
CVE-2026-23889
MEDIUM
GHSA-6x96-7vc8-cm3p
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS 6.5 (MEDIUM). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: None. User interaction: Required. Public exploit/POC available. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to overwriting `. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026
Path traversal in pnpm's tarball extraction on Windows allows attackers to write files outside the intended package directory by exploiting incomplete path normalization that fails to block backslash-based traversal sequences. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, which affects Windows developers and CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps) and could result in overwriting sensitive configuration files like .npmrc or build configurations. A patch is available in pnpm version 10.28.1 and later.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
pnpm is a package manager. Prior to version 10.28.1, a path traversal vulnerability in pnpm's tarball extraction allows malicious packages to write files outside the package directory on Windows. [CVSS 6.5 MEDIUM]
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available — apply it immediately. Validate and sanitize file path inputs. Use allowlists. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.
Affected Packages
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.
Technical ContextAI · show details
Classified as CWE-22 (Path Traversal). Affects Pnpm. pnpm is a package manager. Prior to version 10.28.1, a path traversal vulnerability in pnpm's tarball extraction allows malicious packages to write files outside the package directory on Windows. The path normalization only checks for ./ but not .\. On Windows, backslashes are directory separators, enabling path traversal. This vulnerability is Windows-only. This issue impacts Windows pnpm users and Windows CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions Windows runners, Azure DevOps). It can lead to overwr
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Primary rating from GitHub Advisory.
CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionGitHub Advisory
pnpm is a package manager. Prior to version 10.28.1, a path traversal vulnerability in pnpm's tarball extraction allows malicious packages to write files outside the package directory on Windows. The path normalization only checks for ./ but not .\. On Windows, backslashes are directory separators, enabling path traversal. This vulnerability is Windows-only. This issue impacts Windows pnpm users and Windows CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions Windows runners, Azure DevOps). It can lead to overwriting .npmrc, build configs, or other files. Version 10.28.1 contains a patch.
Executive ViewAI
Organizations using pnpm should be aware of notable risk from CVE-2026-23889, a path traversal vulnerability rated CVSS 6.5. This could allow unauthorized file access. Proof-of-concept code is publicly available. A patch is available and should be applied during regular vulnerability management.
Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: restrict file access via WAF, implement allowlists.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory
Arbitrary code execution in the pnpm package manager (versions 10.0.0 through 10.25) lets a git-hosted dependency run co
pnpm is a package manager. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentica
Path traversal in pnpm before 10.34.0 and 11.4.0 lets a malicious registry package smuggle '../' segments inside a trans
Arbitrary code execution in the pnpm package manager (versions prior to 10.34.2 and 11.5.3) lets a malicious repository
Arbitrary command execution in pnpm before 10.34.2 and 11.5.3 allows a malicious repository to run attacker-chosen nativ
Supply-chain integrity bypass in pnpm package manager (versions ≤10.26.2, per description; GHSA states <10.26.0) allows
PNPM v6.15.1 and below was discovered to contain an untrusted search path which causes the application to behave in unex
Integrity-check bypass in the pnpm package manager (versions before 10.34.0/10.34.1 and 11.0.0-11.3.x) lets tampered pac
Command injection in pnpm versions 6.25.0 through 10.26.2 allows attackers controlling environment variables to execute
Scoped path traversal in pnpm allows arbitrary filesystem overwrites during package installation, defeating the --ignore
Arbitrary file write and deletion in pnpm package manager (versions prior to 10.34.0 and 11.4.0) lets a malicious contri
Arbitrary command execution in pnpm before 10.34.0 and 11.4.0 allows a malicious lockfile to run code on a developer's m
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