CVE-2023-30585

HIGH
7.5
CVSS Score
Published: November 28, 2023 at 01:23 AM UTC
Updated: October 8, 2026 at 10:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorNode.js

Using Node by NodeJS?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect Node - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available
Severity
HIGH7.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%
SSVC
No known exploit

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

10.0 ≤ v < 10.*11.0 ≤ v < 11.*12.0 ≤ v < 12.*13.0 ≤ v < 13.*14.0 ≤ v < 14.*15.0 ≤ v < 15.*16.0 ≤ v < 16.20.116.0.0 ≤ v < 16.20.117.0 ≤ v < 17.*18.0 ≤ v < 18.16.118.0.0 ≤ v < 18.16.119.0 ≤ v < 19.*20.0 ≤ v < 20.3.120.0.0 ≤ v < 20.3.14.0 ≤ v < 4.*5.0 ≤ v < 5.*6.0 ≤ v < 6.*7.0 ≤ v < 7.*8.0 ≤ v < 8.*9.0 ≤ v < 9.**10.011.012.013.014.015.016.017.018.019.020.04.05.06.07.08.09.0
Affected range stops below 10.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 11.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 12.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 13.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 14.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 15.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 16.20.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 17.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 18.16.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 19.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 20.3.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 6.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 7.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 8.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 9.*, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Free plan, no card