CVE-2026-73411: Shescape Home-directory Disclosure Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q53c-4prm-w95q
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CWE-116 CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-73411 is a MODERATE home-directory disclosure vulnerability (CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output) affecting Shescape libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves home-directory disclosure in assignment context on unix with dash. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.14, 3.0.1.

CVE-2026-73411 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-73411
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q53c-4prm-w95q
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output
Affected Product Shescape
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-73411

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

shescape fixed: 2.1.14 
npm install shescape@2.1.14
shescape fixed: 3.0.1 
npm install shescape@3.0.1
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 shescape

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-73411, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls shescape

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Shescape in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.1.14), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls shescape 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 Shescape, 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

### Impact This impacts users of Shescape on Unix systems that explicitly configure `shell` to Dash, or `true` when the default shell is Dash, using the `escape` and `escapeAll` APIs in assignments prefixed to a command. An attacker may be able to obtain the location of the home directory and, depending on how it is used, change the location on which a command operates in unexpected ways. ```javascript import * as cp from "node:child_process"; import { Shescape } from "shescape"; // 1. Prerequisites const options = { shell: "dash", // Or shell: true, // Only if the default shell is Dash }; // 2. Payload const payload = ":~"; // 3. Usage const shescape = new Shescape(options); let escapedPayload; escapedPayload = shescape.escape(payload); // Or escapedPayload = shescape.escapeAll([payload]); // And (example) const result = cp.execSync(`V=${escapedPayload}; echo $V`, options); // 4. Impact console.log(result.toString()); // Outputs ":" followed by the user's home directory ``` ### Patches This bug has been patched in [v2.1.14] and [v3.0.1] which you can upgrade to now. If you are already using v3 of Shescape, no further changes are required. If you are using v2 of Shescape it is recommended to upgrade as this version reaches end-of-life status on 2026-09-28, follow the [migration guide] to upgrade to v3. No patches will be released for version of Shescape lower than v2.0.0. ### Workarounds Alternatively, users of Shescape can 1) refrain from using Dash, 2) use the `env` option of the `node:child_process` API to inject variables with untrusted values instead, or 3) remove all instances of `~` from untrusted inputs. ### For more information - Comment on Pull Request [#2651] for v2 and [#2649] for v3 - Comment on commit [b4b34c3] for v2 and [43d70b5] for v3 - Open an issue at <https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/issues> (New issue > Question)

CVE-2026-73411 Affected Shescape Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.143.0.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
shescape
npm/shescape
npm
< 2.1.14
2.1.14
shescape
npm/shescape
npm
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.0.1
3.0.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/security/advisories/GHSA-q53c-4prm-w95q
Shescape Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/pull/2649
Shescape Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/pull/2651
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/commit/43d70b59d09bbe5c3fd02ef08b3a123e977ed9de
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/commit/b4b34c394e7f9da2775bb75381066b9a228c425f
Shescape Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape
Shescape Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/blob/dea8893a5877893d8d4923dbf253080e08899e6d/docs/migration.md
Shescape Release RELEASE
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/releases/tag/v2.1.14
Shescape Release RELEASE
https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/releases/tag/v3.0.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-73411?
CVE-2026-73411 is a security vulnerability in Shescape involving Home-directory disclosure in assignment context on Unix with Dash under CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output.
Which Shescape versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.14, 3.0.1 across affected packages: shescape.
What version fixes CVE-2026-73411?
Upgrading to 2.1.14, 3.0.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is shescape affected?
Yes, shescape is affected in releases prior to 2.1.14, 3.0.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.14, 3.0.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-73411?
CVE-2026-73411 is classified under CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output (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.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-73411?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls shescape'. 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-q53c-4prm-w95q",
  "modified" : "2026-08-12T19:33:11Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-24T22:34:39Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-73411" ],
  "summary" : "Shescape: Home-directory disclosure in assignment context on Unix with Dash",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nThis impacts users of Shescape on Unix systems that explicitly configure `shell` to Dash, or `true` when the default shell is Dash, using the `escape` and `escapeAll` APIs in assignments prefixed to a command.\n\nAn attacker may be able to obtain the location of the home directory and, depending on how it is used, change the location on which a command operates in unexpected ways.\n\n```javascript\nimport * as cp from \"node:child_process\";\nimport { Shescape } from \"shescape\";\n\n// 1. Prerequisites\nconst options = {\n    shell: \"dash\",\n    // Or\n    shell: true, // Only if the default shell is Dash\n};\n\n// 2. Payload\nconst payload = \":~\";\n\n// 3. Usage\nconst shescape = new Shescape(options);\nlet escapedPayload;\n\nescapedPayload = shescape.escape(payload);\n// Or\nescapedPayload = shescape.escapeAll([payload]);\n\n// And (example)\nconst result = cp.execSync(`V=${escapedPayload}; echo $V`, options);\n\n// 4. Impact\nconsole.log(result.toString());\n// Outputs \":\" followed by the user's home directory\n```\n\n### Patches\n\nThis bug has been patched in [v2.1.14] and [v3.0.1] which you can upgrade to now.\n\nIf you are already using v3 of Shescape, no further changes are required. If you are using v2 of Shescape it is recommended to upgrade as this version reaches end-of-life status on 2026-09-28, follow the [migration guide] to upgrade to v3.\n\nNo patches will be released for version of Shescape lower than v2.0.0.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nAlternatively, users of Shescape can 1) refrain from using Dash, 2) use the `env` option of the `node:child_process` API to inject variables with untrusted values instead, or 3) remove all instances of `~` from untrusted inputs.\n\n### For more information\n\n- Comment on Pull Request [#2651] for v2 and [#2649] for v3\n- Comment on commit [b4b34c3] for v2 and [43d70b5] for v3\n- Open an issue at <https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/issues> (New issue > Question)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "shescape"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.14"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "shescape"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/security/advisories/GHSA-q53c-4prm-w95q"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/pull/2649"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/pull/2651"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/commit/43d70b59d09bbe5c3fd02ef08b3a123e977ed9de"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/commit/b4b34c394e7f9da2775bb75381066b9a228c425f"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/blob/dea8893a5877893d8d4923dbf253080e08899e6d/docs/migration.md"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/releases/tag/v2.1.14"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/releases/tag/v3.0.1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-116", "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-24T22:34:39Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}