CVE-2026-71869: Orval Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2026-71869 is a CRITICAL remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output) affecting Orval libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves import-time rce via array-items default -> zod module-level template literal. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.21.0.
CVE-2026-71869 at a Glance
How to Fix CVE-2026-71869
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Orval dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install orval@8.21.0
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls orval
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-71869, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls orval
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Orval in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 8.21.0), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls orval command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output, where the product prepares a structured message for communication with another component, but encoding or escaping of the data is either missing or done incorrectly. as a result, the intended structure of the message is not preserved. In Orval, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-71869 Affected Orval Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
orval
|
npm |
< 8.21.0
|
8.21.0
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-71869?
Which Orval versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-71869?
Is orval affected?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-71869?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-71869?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-2h9g-j24r-h63g",
"modified" : "2026-09-03T18:38:20Z",
"published" : "2026-09-03T18:38:20Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-71869" ],
"summary" : "Orval: Import-time RCE via array-items default -> zod module-level template literal",
"details" : "### Summary\n\nOrval's zod schema generation emits the **array-items** `default` value as a module-level template literal (`export const …Default = `<default>`;`) without escaping `${` or the backtick. A default of the form `v${<code>}w` injects a live JavaScript expression evaluated when the generated zod schema module is imported, executing attacker-controlled code at import — no request or function call needed. Verified on Orval 8.19.0; survives default OpenAPI validation.\n\n### Details\n\n```ts\nexport const …Default = `v${globalThis.ORVPWN()}w`; // ${...} = arbitrary JS expression, runs at import\n```\n\nMalicious input: an array property (string items) with a `default` of `v${<attacker JS>}w`. `${...}` permits any JS expression.\n\nNote: this is one of several `default`-bearing positions that reach the same unescaped zod template-literal sink; a single fix (escape `default` values) closes all of them, and a CNA may choose to consolidate the related reports.\n\n### PoC\n\n`reproduce.sh` (+ `make_spec.py`) attached: generates the zod schema with default validation, bundles it, imports it, and shows a marker written at import. Verified on 8.19.0.\n\n### Impact\n\nCode execution at import in any application that imports a zod schema module generated from an attacker-controlled or attacker-influenced OpenAPI description.\n\n### Suggested fix\n\nEmit `default` values via a proper string-literal encoder (JSON.stringify, or escape backtick and `${` if a template literal must be used); never interpolate a spec value into a template literal. Apply to every `default` position. [maintainer-report.txt](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/29399151/maintainer-report.txt) [make_spec.py](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/29399152/make_spec.py)[reproduce.sh](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/29399153/reproduce.sh)",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "orval"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "8.21.0"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/security/advisories/GHSA-2h9g-j24r-h63g"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-71869"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/pull/3692"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/commit/8ef1bfdf3f9bcaf9dabfbe2e42887f1c0e159ab6"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/orval-labs/orval"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/releases/tag/v8.21.0"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-116", "CWE-1336", "CWE-94" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-09-03T18:38:20Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-08-19T18:17:24Z"
}
}