nodejs: Permissions policies can be bypassed via Module._load
Published Aug 21, 2023
9.8
CRITICALCVSS 3.1
EPSS 1.61%
Description
The use of `Module._load()` can bypass the policy mechanism and require modules outside of the policy.json definition for a given module.
This vulnerability affects all users using the experimental policy mechanism in all active release lines: 16.x, 18.x and, 20.x.
Please note that at the time this CVE was issued, the policy is an experimental feature of Node.js.
Affected products
-
- Version 10.0StatusaffectedConstraints<10.*
- Version 11.0StatusaffectedConstraints<11.*
- Version 12.0StatusaffectedConstraints<12.*
- Version 13.0StatusaffectedConstraints<13.*
- Version 14.0StatusaffectedConstraints<14.*
- Version 15.0StatusaffectedConstraints<15.*
- Version 16.0StatusaffectedConstraints<16.20.2
- Version 17.0StatusaffectedConstraints<17.*
- Version 18.0StatusaffectedConstraints<18.17.1
- Version 19.0StatusaffectedConstraints<19.*
- Version 20.0StatusaffectedConstraints<20.5.1
- Version 4.0StatusaffectedConstraints<4.*
- Version 5.0StatusaffectedConstraints<5.*
- Version 6.0StatusaffectedConstraints<6.*
- Version 7.0StatusaffectedConstraints<7.*
- Version 8.0StatusaffectedConstraints<8.*
- Version 9.0StatusaffectedConstraints<9.*
- Version
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Node.js | Node | unaffected |
|
-
- Version 0StatusaffectedConstraints<=16.20.1
- Version 0StatusaffectedConstraints<=18.17.0
- Version 0StatusaffectedConstraints<=20.5.0
- Version
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
nodejs:16-8080020230906092006.63b34585
Fixed · RHSA-2023:5360
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
nodejs:18-8080020230825111344.63b34585
Fixed · RHSA-2023:5362
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support
nodejs:16-8060020230906023909.ad008a3a
Fixed · RHSA-2023:5361
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
nodejs-1:16.20.2-1.el9_2
Fixed · RHSA-2023:5532
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
nodejs:18-9020020230825081254.rhel9
Fixed · RHSA-2023:5363
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Extended Update Support
nodejs-1:16.20.2-1.el9_0
Fixed · RHSA-2023:5533
Red Hat Software Collections
rh-nodejs14-nodejs
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | nodejs:16-8080020230906092006.63b34585 | Fixed | RHSA-2023:5360 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | nodejs:18-8080020230825111344.63b34585 | Fixed | RHSA-2023:5362 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support | nodejs:16-8060020230906023909.ad008a3a | Fixed | RHSA-2023:5361 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | nodejs-1:16.20.2-1.el9_2 | Fixed | RHSA-2023:5532 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | nodejs:18-9020020230825081254.rhel9 | Fixed | RHSA-2023:5363 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Extended Update Support | nodejs-1:16.20.2-1.el9_0 | Fixed | RHSA-2023:5533 |
| Red Hat Software Collections | rh-nodejs14-nodejs | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This vulnerability is rated Important instead of Critical because it only impacts users of the policy mechanism that must be explicitly enabled using the `--experimental-policy` flag. This is not enabled by default. Red Hat's Secure Software Development Life Cycle utilizes a layered testing approach. This significantly increases attack complexity, because a compromised package must remain undetected for months to years in testing in upstream communities before it could be adopted into a Red Hat product. This long dwell-time reduces impact to Important.
Red Hat mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v2.0 score for this CVE.
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
NoneAutomatable
YesTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Jul 2, 2025 · SSVC 2.0.3
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2023–2026- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 1.61% (0.01610) | 75.04th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 1.43% (0.01430) | 69.45th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 0.45% (0.00448) | 60.66th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 1.49% (0.01491) | 69.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.45% (0.00448) | 61.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.19% (0.00187) | 57.41th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Aug 25, 2023 | 0.09% (0.00091) | 38.12th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Aug 22, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00043) | 6.97th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
References (7)
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-32002 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2230948 Issue Tracking
- https://hackerone.com/reports/1960870 Third Party Advisory
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/august-2023-security-releases#permissions-policies-can-be-bypassed-via-module_load-highcve-2023-32002
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32002
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230915-0009/
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-32002
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.