{"id":"GHSA-q69g-4hcv-6jg4","summary":"@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm: Shell Injection via Unsanitized --workspace Argument on Windows","details":"## Summary\n\nA **Windows-specific** command injection vulnerability exists in `@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm` when the CLI is invoked with the `--workspace \u003cvalue\u003e` option.  \nUser-supplied `--workspace` values can be passed to a shell command without proper neutralization on the Windows fallback execution path, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary OS commands.  \n\nThe vulnerability was fixed in version [6.0.0][v6.0.0].\n\n## Vulnerability Details\n\nWhen `cyclonedx-npm` is executed with the `--workspace` option, the provided argument is incorporated into an internal command execution flow.  \nOn **Windows systems**, this path can interpret untrusted `--workspace` input as shell syntax if not safely handled.\n\nAs a result, specially crafted workspace names can break out of the intended command context and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the invoking user.\n\n## Impact\n\nAn attacker who can influence the value passed to `--workspace` can execute arbitrary OS commands **on Windows hosts**.  \nThis may lead to:\n\n* Arbitrary command execution\n* Data exfiltration\n* Local privilege escalation (depending on runtime context and privileges)\n* Modification or destruction of files accessible to the user running the CLI\n\nThe vulnerability affects only scenarios where:\n\n* The user invokes `cyclonedx-npm` with `--workspace \u003cvalue\u003e`, and\n* The vulnerable execution path is reached on **Windows**.\n\n## Exploitation Conditions (High-Level)\n\nExploitation requires the attacker to supply or influence the `--workspace` value passed to the CLI.  \nIf the tool falls back to the vulnerable shell execution path on **Windows**, specially crafted workspace identifiers can cause unintended command execution.  \nNo exploit code is included here to avoid providing weaponizable examples.\n\n## Root Cause\n\nThe CLI fallback execution path on **Windows** constructed a shell command using untrusted input from the `--workspace` option.  \nBecause the fallback code path does not sanitize or escape the workspace value, special shell metacharacters (e.g., `\u003e`, `&`, `|`) are interpreted by the shell, enabling command injection.\n\n## Fix\n\nThe vulnerability was resolved in [PR #1489], which ensures workspace values are handled safely and are no longer passed to a vulnerable shell execution path.\n\nThe fix is included in `@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm` version [6.0.0][v6.0.0].\n\n## Remediation\n\n* Upgrade to version [6.0.0][v6.0.0] or later, which contains the complete fix.\n* As a temporary mitigation for older versions, ensure that the environment variable `npm_execpath` is set to a `npm-cli.js` before invoking the tool.\n* Avoid passing untrusted or user-controlled values to the `--workspace` option.\n* If immediate upgrade is not possible, prioritize mitigation on **Windows systems**, where exploitability exists.","aliases":["CVE-2026-71538"],"modified":"2026-09-17T15:00:05.899785431Z","published":"2026-09-17T14:50:40Z","database_specific":{"github_reviewed_at":"2026-09-17T14:50:40Z","nvd_published_at":null,"cwe_ids":["CWE-78"],"severity":"HIGH","github_reviewed":true},"references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/security/advisories/GHSA-q69g-4hcv-6jg4"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/pull/1489"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/commit/15d3beb5bcd2b0b6eccfdf31192f5103b3f12c0f"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/releases/tag/v6.0.0"}],"affected":[{"package":{"name":"@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm","ecosystem":"npm","purl":"pkg:npm/%40cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm"},"ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"6.0.0"}]}],"database_specific":{"source":"https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/09/GHSA-q69g-4hcv-6jg4/GHSA-q69g-4hcv-6jg4.json"}}],"schema_version":"1.9.0","severity":[{"type":"CVSS_V4","score":"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"}]}