CVE-2026-71538: @cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm Shell Injection Vulnerability

{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-q69g-4hcv-6jg4",
  "modified" : "2026-09-17T14:50:40Z",
  "published" : "2026-09-17T14:50:40Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-71538" ],
  "summary" : "@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm: Shell Injection via Unsanitized --workspace Argument on Windows",
  "details" : "## Summary\n\nA **Windows-specific** command injection vulnerability exists in `@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm` when the CLI is invoked with the `--workspace <value>` option.  \nUser-supplied `--workspace` values can be passed to a shell command without proper neutralization on the Windows fallback execution path, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary OS commands.  \n\nThe vulnerability was fixed in version [6.0.0][v6.0.0].\n\n## Vulnerability Details\n\nWhen `cyclonedx-npm` is executed with the `--workspace` option, the provided argument is incorporated into an internal command execution flow.  \nOn **Windows systems**, this path can interpret untrusted `--workspace` input as shell syntax if not safely handled.\n\nAs a result, specially crafted workspace names can break out of the intended command context and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the invoking user.\n\n## Impact\n\nAn attacker who can influence the value passed to `--workspace` can execute arbitrary OS commands **on Windows hosts**.  \nThis may lead to:\n\n* Arbitrary command execution\n* Data exfiltration\n* Local privilege escalation (depending on runtime context and privileges)\n* Modification or destruction of files accessible to the user running the CLI\n\nThe vulnerability affects only scenarios where:\n\n* The user invokes `cyclonedx-npm` with `--workspace <value>`, and\n* The vulnerable execution path is reached on **Windows**.\n\n## Exploitation Conditions (High-Level)\n\nExploitation requires the attacker to supply or influence the `--workspace` value passed to the CLI.  \nIf the tool falls back to the vulnerable shell execution path on **Windows**, specially crafted workspace identifiers can cause unintended command execution.  \nNo exploit code is included here to avoid providing weaponizable examples.\n\n## Root Cause\n\nThe CLI fallback execution path on **Windows** constructed a shell command using untrusted input from the `--workspace` option.  \nBecause the fallback code path does not sanitize or escape the workspace value, special shell metacharacters (e.g., `>`, `&`, `|`) are interpreted by the shell, enabling command injection.\n\n## Fix\n\nThe vulnerability was resolved in [PR #1489], which ensures workspace values are handled safely and are no longer passed to a vulnerable shell execution path.\n\nThe fix is included in `@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm` version [6.0.0][v6.0.0].\n\n## Remediation\n\n* Upgrade to version [6.0.0][v6.0.0] or later, which contains the complete fix.\n* As a temporary mitigation for older versions, ensure that the environment variable `npm_execpath` is set to a `npm-cli.js` before invoking the tool.\n* Avoid passing untrusted or user-controlled values to the `--workspace` option.\n* If immediate upgrade is not possible, prioritize mitigation on **Windows systems**, where exploitability exists.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-npm"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/security/advisories/GHSA-q69g-4hcv-6jg4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/pull/1489"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/commit/15d3beb5bcd2b0b6eccfdf31192f5103b3f12c0f"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-node-npm/releases/tag/v6.0.0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-09-17T14:50:40Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}