GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp: Commander js Malicious Package Vulnerability

CRITICAL
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-506
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) malicious package vulnerability (CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code) affecting Commander js libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves malicious package in commander-js. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code
Affected Product Commander js
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Commander js dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

commander-js fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install commander-js@Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls commander-js

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls commander-js

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Commander js in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls commander-js 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-506: Embedded Malicious Code, where the product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature. In Commander js, 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

All versions of `commander-js` are considered malicious. The package is malware designed to take advantage of users making a mistake when typing the name of a module to install. When installed, the package downloads an arbitrary file and executes its contents as a post-install script. ## Recommendation This package is not available on the npm Registry anymore. If you happen to find this package in your environment you should consider the system it was installed on compromised and assess if further response (such as rotating all credentials found on the compromised machine) is necessary.

GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp Affected Commander js Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
commander-js
npm/commander-js
npm
≥ 0.0.0

References

www.npmjs.com/advisories/763 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/763

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp?
GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp is a security vulnerability in Commander js involving Malicious Package in commander-js under CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code.
Which Commander js versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: commander-js.
What version fixes GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is commander-js affected?
Yes, commander-js is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp?
GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp?
GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp is classified under CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code (The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.).
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls commander-js'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2hqf-qqmq-pgpp",
  "modified" : "2021-10-01T13:30:38Z",
  "published" : "2020-09-02T15:48:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Malicious Package in commander-js",
  "details" : "All versions of `commander-js` are considered malicious. The package is malware designed to take advantage of users making a mistake when typing the name of a module to install. When installed, the package downloads an arbitrary file and executes its contents as a post-install script.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nThis package is not available on the npm Registry anymore. If you happen to find this package in your environment you should consider the system it was installed on compromised and assess if further response (such as rotating all credentials found on the compromised machine) is necessary.\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "commander-js"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/763"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-506" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-08-31T18:34:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}