CVE-2026-50016
Description
A flaw was found in pnpm, a package manager. This vulnerability allows a malicious registry package to include specially crafted dependency aliases that contain path traversal segments. During the installation process, pnpm incorrectly processes these aliases, which can lead to the replacement of legitimate project paths with symbolic links (symlinks) pointing to directories controlled by an attacker. This could enable an attacker to execute arbitrary code or manipulate project files, severely impacting the integrity and security of the project.
Statement
This Important flaw in pnpm, a JavaScript package manager, allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution by publishing a malicious package to a registry. During installation, even with --ignore-scripts, specially crafted dependency aliases can lead to path traversal, replacing legitimate project files with symlinks to attacker-controlled directories. This bypasses expected security measures and can compromise the integrity of a project when subsequent commands are executed.
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).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 8 | N/A | 8.8 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | Required | N/A | Required |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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