🛡️ CVE-2026-15921
Description
Node Version Manager (nvm) is a POSIX-compliant shell function for managing multiple node.js versions. In versions 0.32.1 through 0.40.5, nvm ls-remote (and other commands that refresh remote LTS aliases, such as nvm install --lts) parse the node.js mirror's index.tab and use each release's LTS codename field as an alias filename without validating it. A malicious, compromised, or man-in-the-middled mirror can return an LTS codename containing path-traversal sequences such as ../../../.bashrc, causing nvm to write the associated version string to a path outside $NVM_DIR/alias. With the default layout ($NVM_DIR is ~/.nvm), this can create or overwrite files in the user's home directory, including shell startup files, which can lead to code execution in a later shell session. Exploitation requires the victim to use a hostile mirror -- via a compromised mirror or CDN, a network man-in-the-middle, or a maliciously configured NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR/NVM_IOJS_ORG_MIRROR -- and to run an affected command. Version 0.40.6 validates remote LTS codenames as safe alias filenames and rejects .. path components when writing alias files.
How this vulnerability can be exploited
This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is high, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. A user must be tricked into taking some action. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity low, availability none.
Weakness class
CVE-2026-15921 is classified as CWE-22: Path Traversal. A file path built from user input is not confined to the intended directory, letting an attacker reach files elsewhere on the filesystem.
Affected software
CVE-2026-15921 is recorded against 1 package.
- unknown
Timeline and source
Published on 15 July 2026 and last revised on 16 July 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from NVD.
References
Details
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Affected Packages
| Software | From version | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| unknown | — | — |
References
Similar Threats
- Unknown CVE-2022-0003
- Unknown CVE-2022-0303
- High CVE-2022-1206
- Unknown CVE-2022-0931
- Unknown CVE-2022-0094
More CVE 2026 advisories
Browse all of CVE 2026 in the advisory index.
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