CVE-2025-23084: node.js Path Traversal — Fix

Description

A vulnerability has been identified in Node.js, specifically affecting the handling of drive names in the Windows environment. Certain Node.js functions do not treat drive names as special on Windows. As a result, although Node.js assumes a relative path, it actually refers to the root directory. On Windows, a path that does not start with the file separator is treated as relative to the current directory. This vulnerability affects Windows users of `path.join` API.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

5.5

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-22 Path Traversal

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
nodejs	node.js	18.0 — 18.20.6
nodejs	node.js	20.0 — 20.18.2
nodejs	node.js	22.0 — 22.13.1
nodejs	node.js	23.0 — 23.6.1
microsoft	windows	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/january-2025-security-releases

Other References

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/07/22/2 https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250321-0003/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-23084? +

A vulnerability has been identified in Node.js, specifically affecting the handling of drive names in the Windows environment. Certain Node.js functions do not treat drive names as special on Windows. As a result, although Node.js assumes a relative path, it actually refers to the root directory. On Windows, a path that does not start with the file separator is treated as relative to the current directory. This vulnerability affects Windows users of `path.join` API. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2025-23084? +

CVE-2025-23084 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-23084? +

CVE-2025-23084 affects products from microsoft, nodejs, specifically: node.js, windows. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-23084? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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