High
npm — security advisory
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. It is possible for packages to create symlinks to files outside of thenode_modules folder through the bin field upon installation. A properly constructed entry in the package.json bin field would allow a package publisher to create a symlink pointing to arbitrary files on a user's system when the package is installed. This behavior is still possible through install scripts. This vulnerability bypasses a user using the --ignore-scripts install option.
- Products
- npm
- Affected versions
- 1.2.18~dfsg-3, 1.3.10~dfsg-1, 1.4.21+ds-2, 11.16.0+ds2-4, 3.5.2-0ubuntu4, 3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.16.04.1~esm1, 3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.18.04.1~esm1, 5.8.0+ds6-4, 6.14.4+ds-1ubuntu2, 7.24.2+ds-1, 7.24.2+ds-2, 7.5.2+ds-2, 8.3.0~ds-1, 8.3.0~ds-2, 8.3.2~ds-1, 8.5.0~ds-1, 8.5.1~ds-1, 9.2.0~ds1-1, 9.2.0~ds1-2, 9.2.0~ds1-3, 9.2.0~ds2-2, 9.2.0~ds3-1
- Fixed versions
- Not specified
- CVEs
- CVE-2019-16775
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 31 Oct 2026, 00:29 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. It is possible for packages to create symlinks to files outside of thenode_modules folder through the bin field upon installation. A properly constructed entry in the package.json bin field would allow a package publisher to create a symlink pointing to arbitrary files on a user's system when the package is installed. This behavior is still possible through install scripts. This vulnerability bypasses a user using the --ignore-scripts install option.
osv:UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
npm
Fixed versions: Not specified
Complete source record
{
"id": "89fb34e2696fbd16bcd02c7a736b05682c8cc37907756e6d67bd003d010bc6ff",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775",
"summary": "Versions of the npm CLI prior to 6.13.3 are vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Write. It is possible for packages to create symlinks to files outside of thenode_modules folder through the bin field upon installation. A properly constructed entry in the package.json bin field would allow a package publisher to create a symlink pointing to arbitrary files on a user's system when the package is installed. This behavior is still possible through install scripts. This vulnerability bypasses a user using the --ignore-scripts install option.",
"evidence": "osv:UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775",
"products": [
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "1.2.18~dfsg-3",
"evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
},
{
"value": "1.3.10~dfsg-1",
"evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "1.4.21+ds-2",
"evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
},
{
"value": "3.5.2-0ubuntu4",
"evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
},
{
"value": "3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.16.04.1~esm1",
"evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/2/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "3.5.2-0ubuntu4",
"evidence": "/affected/2/versions"
},
{
"value": "3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.18.04.1~esm1",
"evidence": "/affected/2/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/3/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "5.8.0+ds6-4",
"evidence": "/affected/3/versions"
},
{
"value": "6.14.4+ds-1ubuntu2",
"evidence": "/affected/3/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/4/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "7.5.2+ds-2",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "7.24.2+ds-1",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "7.24.2+ds-2",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "8.3.0~ds-1",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "8.3.0~ds-2",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "8.3.2~ds-1",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "8.5.0~ds-1",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "8.5.1~ds-1",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/5/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds1-1",
"evidence": "/affected/5/versions"
},
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds1-2",
"evidence": "/affected/5/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/6/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds1-3",
"evidence": "/affected/6/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/7/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds3-1",
"evidence": "/affected/7/versions"
},
{
"value": "11.16.0+ds2-4",
"evidence": "/affected/7/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "npm",
"evidence": "/affected/8/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds1-3",
"evidence": "/affected/8/versions"
},
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds2-2",
"evidence": "/affected/8/versions"
},
{
"value": "9.2.0~ds3-1",
"evidence": "/affected/8/versions"
}
]
}
],
"severity": "high",
"structured": {
"id": "UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775",
"aliases": [
"UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775"
],
"metrics": [
{
"type": "CVSS_V3",
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N"
},
{
"type": "CVSS_V3",
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
},
{
"type": "Ubuntu",
"score": "medium"
}
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=trusty",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:14.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"1.2.18~dfsg-3",
"1.3.10~dfsg-1"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "1.3.10~dfsg-1"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=esm-apps%2Fxenial",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"1.4.21+ds-2",
"3.5.2-0ubuntu4",
"3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.16.04.1~esm1"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.16.04.1~esm1"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=esm-apps%2Fbionic",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"3.5.2-0ubuntu4",
"3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.18.04.1~esm1"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "3.5.2-0ubuntu4.1.18.04.1~esm1"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=focal",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:20.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"5.8.0+ds6-4",
"6.14.4+ds-1ubuntu2"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "6.14.4+ds-1ubuntu2"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=jammy",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:22.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"7.5.2+ds-2",
"7.24.2+ds-1",
"7.24.2+ds-2",
"8.3.0~ds-1",
"8.3.0~ds-2",
"8.3.2~ds-1",
"8.5.0~ds-1",
"8.5.1~ds-1"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "8.5.1~ds-1"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
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"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=noble",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:24.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"9.2.0~ds1-1",
"9.2.0~ds1-2"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
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"binary_version": "9.2.0~ds1-2"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
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"introduced": "0"
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"package": {
"name": "npm",
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"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:25.10"
},
"versions": [
"9.2.0~ds1-3"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "9.2.0~ds1-3"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
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],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=stonking",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:26.10"
},
"versions": [
"9.2.0~ds3-1",
"11.16.0+ds2-4"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "11.16.0+ds2-4"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "npm",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/npm?arch=source&distro=resolute",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:26.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"9.2.0~ds1-3",
"9.2.0~ds2-2",
"9.2.0~ds3-1"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16775.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "npm",
"binary_version": "9.2.0~ds3-1"
}
]
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-17T12:55:25.451401971Z",
"provider": "osv",
"upstream": [
"CVE-2019-16775"
],
"references": [
"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-16775",
"https://github.com/npm/cli/security/advisories/GHSA-m6cx-g6qm-p2cx",
"https://blog.npmjs.org/post/189618601100/binary-planting-with-the-npm-cli",
"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16775"
]
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2019-16775",
"evidence": "/upstream"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": "/severity/0/score"
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 353740,
"published_at": "2019-12-13T01:15:00+00:00"
}