CVE-2023-23918 (GCVE-0-2023-23918)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2023-02-23 00:00 – Updated: 2025-05-08 16:15
VLAI
Summary
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Node.js <19.6.1, <18.14.1, <16.19.1 and <14.21.3 that made it possible to bypass the experimental Permissions (https://nodejs.org/api/permissions.html) feature in Node.js and access non authorized modules by using process.mainModule.require(). This only affects users who had enabled the experimental permissions option with --experimental-policy.
Severity
7.5 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
SSVC
Exploitation: none Automatable: yes Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator (v2.0.3)
CWE
  • Privilege Escalation (CAPEC-233)
  • CWE-863 - Incorrect Authorization
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
NodeJS Node Affected: 4.0 , < 4.* (semver)
Affected: 5.0 , < 5.* (semver)
Affected: 6.0 , < 6.* (semver)
Affected: 7.0 , < 7.* (semver)
Affected: 8.0 , < 8.* (semver)
Affected: 9.0 , < 9.* (semver)
Affected: 10.0 , < 10.* (semver)
Affected: 11.0 , < 11.* (semver)
Affected: 12.0 , < 12.* (semver)
Affected: 13.0 , < 13.* (semver)
Affected: 14.0 , < 14.21.3 (semver)
Affected: 15.0 , < 15.* (semver)
Affected: 16.0 , < 16.19.1 (semver)
Affected: 17.0 , < 17.* (semver)
Affected: 18.0 , < 18.14.1 (semver)
Affected: 19.0 , < 19.6.1 (semver)
Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-02T10:42:27.095Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2023-security-releases/"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0008/"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      },
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "cvssV3_1": {
              "attackComplexity": "LOW",
              "attackVector": "NETWORK",
              "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
              "baseScore": 7.5,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
              "integrityImpact": "NONE",
              "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
              "scope": "UNCHANGED",
              "userInteraction": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
              "version": "3.1"
            }
          },
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2023-23918",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "yes"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2025-03-12T17:47:16.492191Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "problemTypes": [
          {
            "descriptions": [
              {
                "cweId": "CWE-863",
                "description": "CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization",
                "lang": "en",
                "type": "CWE"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2025-05-08T16:15:23.012Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Node",
          "vendor": "NodeJS",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "4.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "4.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "5.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "5.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "6.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "7.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "8.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "8.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "9.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "9.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "10.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "11.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "11.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "12.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "12.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "13.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "13.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "14.21.3",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "14.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "15.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "15.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "16.19.1",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "16.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "17.*",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "17.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "18.14.1",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "18.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "19.6.1",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "19.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Node.js \u003c19.6.1, \u003c18.14.1, \u003c16.19.1 and \u003c14.21.3 that made it possible to bypass the experimental Permissions (https://nodejs.org/api/permissions.html) feature in Node.js and access non authorized modules by using process.mainModule.require(). This only affects users who had enabled the experimental permissions option with --experimental-policy."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "description": "Privilege Escalation (CAPEC-233)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "text"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2025-04-30T05:55:44.344Z",
        "orgId": "36234546-b8fa-4601-9d6f-f4e334aa8ea1",
        "shortName": "hackerone"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2023-security-releases/"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0008/"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "36234546-b8fa-4601-9d6f-f4e334aa8ea1",
    "assignerShortName": "hackerone",
    "cveId": "CVE-2023-23918",
    "datePublished": "2023-02-23T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2023-01-19T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2025-05-08T16:15:23.012Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2023-23918",
      "date": "2026-07-14",
      "epss": "0.02023",
      "percentile": "0.7871"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2023-23918\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"support@hackerone.com\",\"published\":\"2023-02-23T20:15:13.920\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-06-17T05:38:16.663\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Modified\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Node.js \u003c19.6.1, \u003c18.14.1, \u003c16.19.1 and \u003c14.21.3 that made it possible to bypass the experimental Permissions (https://nodejs.org/api/permissions.html) feature in Node.js and access non authorized modules by using process.mainModule.require(). This only affects users who had enabled the experimental permissions option with --experimental-policy.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"support@hackerone.com\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"NodeJS\",\"product\":\"Node\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"4.0\",\"lessThan\":\"4.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"5.0\",\"lessThan\":\"5.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"6.0\",\"lessThan\":\"6.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"7.0\",\"lessThan\":\"7.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"8.0\",\"lessThan\":\"8.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"9.0\",\"lessThan\":\"9.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"10.0\",\"lessThan\":\"10.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"11.0\",\"lessThan\":\"11.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"12.0\",\"lessThan\":\"12.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"13.0\",\"lessThan\":\"13.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"14.0\",\"lessThan\":\"14.21.3\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"15.0\",\"lessThan\":\"15.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"16.0\",\"lessThan\":\"16.19.1\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"17.0\",\"lessThan\":\"17.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"18.0\",\"lessThan\":\"18.14.1\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"19.0\",\"lessThan\":\"19.6.1\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N\",\"baseScore\":7.5,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"NONE\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":3.9,\"impactScore\":3.6},{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N\",\"baseScore\":7.5,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"NONE\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":3.9,\"impactScore\":3.6}],\"ssvcV203\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"ssvcData\":{\"timestamp\":\"2025-03-12T17:47:16.492191Z\",\"id\":\"CVE-2023-23918\",\"options\":[{\"exploitation\":\"none\"},{\"automatable\":\"yes\"},{\"technicalImpact\":\"partial\"}],\"role\":\"CISA Coordinator\",\"version\":\"2.0.3\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-863\"}]},{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-863\"}]}],\"configurations\":[{\"nodes\":[{\"operator\":\"OR\",\"negate\":false,\"cpeMatch\":[{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"14.0.0\",\"versionEndIncluding\":\"14.14.0\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"428DCD7B-6F66-4F18-B780-5BD80143D482\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"14.0.0\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"14.21.3\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"DA48F3CE-68BC-43F1-9428-A9F928420081\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"16.0.0\",\"versionEndIncluding\":\"16.12.0\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"1D1D0CEC-62E5-4368-B8F2-1DA5DD0B88FA\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"16.0.0\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"16.19.1\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"6E9FAEC6-2D3A-4CBE-859F-11BCECC4F724\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"18.0.0\",\"versionEndIncluding\":\"18.11.0\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"33DB62F6-9D8D-42F8-A75E-82DA091C02BC\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"18.0.0\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"18.14.1\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"80500AD0-17C2-4698-AE03-1C6782FD38B0\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"19.0.0\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"19.6.1\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"8F4FCD16-4B9F-44B9-80DD-D024759CAB10\"}]}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2023-security-releases/\",\"source\":\"support@hackerone.com\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\",\"Vendor Advisory\"]},{\"url\":\"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0008/\",\"source\":\"support@hackerone.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2023-security-releases/\",\"source\":\"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\",\"Vendor Advisory\"]},{\"url\":\"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0008/\",\"source\":\"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108\"}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-06-28T06:40:15+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2023-23918",
      "id": "CVE-2023-23918",
      "initial_release_date": "2023-02-16T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:fixed": "254",
      "product_status:known_affected": "1",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "16",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "Node.js: Permissions policies can be bypassed via process.mainModule",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2023/cve-2023-23918.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": "{\"adp\": [{\"title\": \"CVE Program Container\", \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2023-security-releases/\", \"tags\": [\"x_transferred\"]}, {\"url\": \"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0008/\", \"tags\": [\"x_transferred\"]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108\", \"shortName\": \"CVE\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2024-08-02T10:42:27.095Z\"}}, {\"title\": \"CISA ADP Vulnrichment\", \"metrics\": [{\"cvssV3_1\": {\"scope\": \"UNCHANGED\", \"version\": \"3.1\", \"baseScore\": 7.5, \"attackVector\": \"NETWORK\", \"baseSeverity\": \"HIGH\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N\", \"integrityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"userInteraction\": \"NONE\", \"attackComplexity\": \"LOW\", \"availabilityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"privilegesRequired\": \"NONE\", \"confidentialityImpact\": \"HIGH\"}}, {\"other\": {\"type\": \"ssvc\", \"content\": {\"id\": \"CVE-2023-23918\", \"role\": \"CISA Coordinator\", \"options\": [{\"Exploitation\": \"none\"}, {\"Automatable\": \"yes\"}, {\"Technical Impact\": \"partial\"}], \"version\": \"2.0.3\", \"timestamp\": \"2025-03-12T17:47:16.492191Z\"}}}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-863\", \"description\": \"CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\", \"shortName\": \"CISA-ADP\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2025-03-12T17:46:30.801Z\"}}], \"cna\": {\"affected\": [{\"vendor\": \"NodeJS\", \"product\": \"Node\", \"versions\": [{\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"4.0\", \"lessThan\": \"4.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"5.0\", \"lessThan\": \"5.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"6.0\", \"lessThan\": \"6.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"7.0\", \"lessThan\": \"7.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"8.0\", \"lessThan\": \"8.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"9.0\", \"lessThan\": \"9.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"10.0\", \"lessThan\": \"10.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"11.0\", \"lessThan\": \"11.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"12.0\", \"lessThan\": \"12.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"13.0\", \"lessThan\": \"13.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"14.0\", \"lessThan\": \"14.21.3\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"15.0\", \"lessThan\": \"15.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"16.0\", \"lessThan\": \"16.19.1\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"17.0\", \"lessThan\": \"17.*\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"18.0\", \"lessThan\": \"18.14.1\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"19.0\", \"lessThan\": \"19.6.1\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}], \"defaultStatus\": \"unaffected\"}], \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2023-security-releases/\"}, {\"url\": \"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0008/\"}], \"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"value\": \"A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Node.js \u003c19.6.1, \u003c18.14.1, \u003c16.19.1 and \u003c14.21.3 that made it possible to bypass the experimental Permissions (https://nodejs.org/api/permissions.html) feature in Node.js and access non authorized modules by using process.mainModule.require(). This only affects users who had enabled the experimental permissions option with --experimental-policy.\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"text\", \"description\": \"Privilege Escalation (CAPEC-233)\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"36234546-b8fa-4601-9d6f-f4e334aa8ea1\", \"shortName\": \"hackerone\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2025-04-30T05:55:44.344Z\"}}}",
      "cveMetadata": "{\"cveId\": \"CVE-2023-23918\", \"state\": \"PUBLISHED\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2025-05-08T16:15:23.012Z\", \"dateReserved\": \"2023-01-19T00:00:00.000Z\", \"assignerOrgId\": \"36234546-b8fa-4601-9d6f-f4e334aa8ea1\", \"datePublished\": \"2023-02-23T00:00:00.000Z\", \"assignerShortName\": \"hackerone\"}",
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.1"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.