CVE-2025-61260: @openai/codex OpenAI Codex CLI Enables Code Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xrxf-jgv3-qmrm
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-61260 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) openai codex cli enables code vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting @openai/codex libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openai codex cli enables code execution through malicious mcp (model context protocol) configuration files. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2025-61260 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-61260
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xrxf-jgv3-qmrm
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product @openai/codex
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 CVE-2025-61260

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

@openai/codex fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install @openai/codex@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 @openai/codex

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2025-61260, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls @openai/codex

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of @openai/codex 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 @openai/codex 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-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In @openai/codex, 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

A vulnerability was identified in OpenAI Codex CLI v0.23.0 and before that enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files. The attack is triggered when a user runs the codex command inside a malicious or compromised repository. Codex automatically loads project-local .env and .codex/config.toml files without requiring user confirmation, allowing attackers to embed arbitrary commands that execute immediately.

CVE-2025-61260 Affected @openai/codex Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
@openai/codex
npm/@openai/codex
npm
≤ 0.23.0

References

NVD — CVE-2025-61260 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-61260
@openai/codex Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openai/codex
research.checkpoint.com/2025/openai-codex-c... WEB
https://research.checkpoint.com/2025/openai-codex-cli-command-injection-vulnerability
openai.com WEB
http://openai.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-61260?
CVE-2025-61260 is a security vulnerability in @openai/codex involving OpenAI Codex CLI enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which @openai/codex versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: @openai/codex.
What version fixes CVE-2025-61260?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is @openai/codex affected?
Yes, @openai/codex is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-61260?
CVE-2025-61260 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 CVE-2025-61260?
CVE-2025-61260 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2025-61260?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls @openai/codex'. 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-xrxf-jgv3-qmrm",
  "modified" : "2026-04-16T22:56:42Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-14T15:30:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-61260" ],
  "summary" : "OpenAI Codex CLI enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files",
  "details" : "A vulnerability was identified in OpenAI Codex CLI v0.23.0 and before that enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files. The attack is triggered when a user runs the codex command inside a malicious or compromised repository. Codex automatically loads project-local .env and .codex/config.toml files without requiring user confirmation, allowing attackers to embed arbitrary commands that execute immediately.",
  "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" : "@openai/codex"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "0.23.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-61260"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openai/codex"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://research.checkpoint.com/2025/openai-codex-cli-command-injection-vulnerability"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openai.com"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-16T22:56:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-14T15:16:24Z"
  }
}