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CVE-2021-43616

33
FAUCET Score

CVE-2021-43616 describes an issue in npm versions 7.x and 8.x through 8.1.3 where the 'npm ci' command proceeds with installation even if package-lock.json and package.json dependency information differs. This behavior, inconsistent with documentation, could allow attackers to install malware by bypassing expected exact version matches. The vulnerability has a critical CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a network-based attack with low complexity and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Despite its severity, there is no evidence of active exploitation, no known exploit code in Metasploit, Nuclei, or ExploitDB, and it is not listed in the KEV catalog, though it has garnered significant community discussion.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
>= 7.0.0, <= 7.24.2CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:npm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
>= 8.0.0, <= 8.1.3CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:npmjs:npm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Range not provided by sourceCPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:next_generation_application_programming_interface:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
35CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

9.0CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
HIGH
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
Exploitability Score
2.2
Impact Score
6.0
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
2.53%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
83.3%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-27
Model: v2026.06.15
This CVE's current EPSS score of 0.0253 is in the 74th percentile among its peer group of 36,862 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.1 Reddit, 0.3 Bluesky, 0.3 Mastodon, and 2.4 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

No media coverage found for this CVE.

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.3 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.0 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (2)

github_advisorypatch availablevia nvd_reference
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Fixed in: nodejs:16-8060020220519144917.ad008a3a
View patch

Vendor Advisories (1)

redhatCVE-2021-43616Important

npm: npm ci succeeds when package-lock.json doesn't match package.json

Feb 15, 2021

References

docs.npmjs.com / cli/v7/commands/npm-ci
ProductVendor Advisory
docs.npmjs.com / cli/v8/commands/npm-ci
github.com / icatalina/CVE-2021-43616
Third Party Advisory
github.com / npm/cli/commit/457e0ae61bbc55846f5af44afa4066921923490f
PatchThird Party Advisory
github.com / npm/cli/issues/2701
ExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
github.com / npm/cli/issues/2701
github.com / npm/cli/issues/2701
lists.fedoraproject.org / archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NXNVFKOF5ZYH5NIRWHKN6O6UBCHDV6FE
medium.com / cider-sec/this-time-we-were-lucky-85c0dcac94a0
ExploitThird Party Advisory
security.netapp.com / advisory/ntap-20211210-0002
Third Party Advisory