better-npm-audit through 3.11.0, and the 4.0.0-rc.2 prerelease, builds its npm audit command by interpolating the user-supplied --registry option into a command string in src/handlers/handleInput.ts without validation or quoting, then passes that string to child_process.exec() in index.ts, which spawns a shell. A registry value containing shell metacharacters such as a semicolon, pipe, or command substitution executes arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the process running the audit.

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction Passive

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction Required

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
jeemok better-npm-audit unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected ≤ 3.11.0
4.0.0-rc.2 affected —

No data.

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Project Subscriptions

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/jeemok/better-npm-audit cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/jeemok/better-npm-audit/blob/fd99a0f41ff4342b8a0a6fdbe5a17261de3d0544/index.ts#L34 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/jeemok/better-npm-audit/blob/fd99a0f41ff4342b8a0a6fdbe5a17261de3d0544/src/handlers/handleInput.ts#L30-L37 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/jeemok/better-npm-audit/issues/119 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/jeemok/better-npm-audit/pull/120 cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/better-npm-audit-os-command-injection-via-registry-flag cve-icon cve-icon
History

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description better-npm-audit through 3.11.0, and the 4.0.0-rc.2 prerelease, builds its npm audit command by interpolating the user-supplied --registry option into a command string in src/handlers/handleInput.ts without validation or quoting, then passes that string to child_process.exec() in index.ts, which spawns a shell. A registry value containing shell metacharacters such as a semicolon, pipe, or command substitution executes arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the process running the audit.
Title better-npm-audit OS Command Injection via registry flag
Weaknesses CWE-78
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.5, 'vector': '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'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-22T12:26:30.536Z

Reserved: 2026-06-26T17:58:05.796Z

Link: CVE-2026-57998

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-22T13:16:38.263

Modified: 2026-08-22T13:16:38.263

Link: CVE-2026-57998

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-22T15:00:12Z

Weaknesses