Node.jsApplication
CVE-2023-32004
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedA vulnerability has been discovered in Node.js version 20, specifically within the experimental permission model. This flaw relates to improper handling of Buffers in file system APIs causing a traversal path to bypass when verifying file permissions. This vulnerability affects all users using the experimental permission model in Node.js 20. Please note that at the time this CVE was issued, the permission model is an experimental feature of Node.js.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceNode.js version 20 contains a vulnerability in its experimental permission model where improper handling of Buffers in file system APIs allows path traversal to bypass file permission verification. This enables attackers to access files outside the intended permission boundaries.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data
Node.jsApplication
>= 20.0.0, <= 20.5.0
FedoraOperating system
= 37= 38CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Check installed Node.js versionRun 'node --version' or 'node -v' to determine the installed Node.js versionAffected if The installed version is greater than or equal to 20.0.0 and less than or equal to 20.5.0
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Verify experimental permission model is enabledCheck if Node.js was launched with the --experimental-permission flag, or inspect running processes for this flag in the command lineAffected if The experimental permission model is actively enabled at runtime
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Confirm file system API usage with Buffer inputsReview application code for usage of file system APIs (such as fs.readFile, fs.writeFile, fs.open) that accept Buffer objects as path argumentsAffected if The application uses file system APIs with Buffer-type path arguments while the experimental permission model is enabled
The environment is affected if running Node.js version 20.0.0 through 20.5.0 with the experimental permission model enabled and the application utilizes file system APIs with Buffer path inputs.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scopedAvoid using the experimental permission model in production until a patch is available; if already in use, restrict access to sensitive file system paths and monitor for unauthorized access attempts.
Node.js 20.6.0 or later (recommended: latest 20.x LTS)
- 1. Identify the current Node.js version by running 'node --version'
- 2. If the version is between 20.0.0 and 20.5.0 (inclusive), upgrade to Node.js 20.6.0 or later
- 3. Use a version manager (nvm, n, or fnm) or download the latest LTS from nodejs.org
- 4. After upgrade, verify the version with 'node --version' to confirm installation
- 5. Test your application with the experimental permission model to ensure functionality
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
Fix this in Node.js
Scoped from the published advisory
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation1.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA1.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $1,936.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2023-32004 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-32004 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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