CVE-2021-43616
Description
A flaw was found in npm. The npm ci command proceeds with an installation even if dependency information in package-lock.json differs from package.json. This behavior is inconsistent with the documentation and makes it easier for attackers to install malware that was supposed to have been blocked by an exact version match requirement in package-lock.json.
Statement
Several nodejs modules in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and software collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 are not affected by this flaw. This is because the vulnerability was never present in the 6.x version of npm in use by these products.
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.
Mitigation
Red Hat has investigated whether possible mitigation exists for this issue, and has not been able to identify a practical example. Please update the affected package as soon as possible.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 8.1 | 9.8 | 9 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | High |
| Privileges Required | None | None | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Changed |
| Confidentiality | High | High | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | High | High |
| Availability Impact | High | High | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Other
Technical Impact: Varies by Context; Unexpected State
Frequently Asked Questions
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