Description
Node Version Manager (nvm) is a POSIX-compliant shell function for managing multiple node.js versions. In versions 0.39.6 through 0.40.8, `nvm ls-remote` (and other commands that refresh remote LTS aliases) store the version column of the mirror's `index.tab` in `$NVM_DIR/alias/lts/` without validating it, and `nvm_normalize_lts` later evaluates any suffix of an `lts/-N` value inside shell arithmetic `$((N+1))`. Under bash and zsh, arithmetic evaluation expands command substitutions in array subscripts, so a stored value such as `lts/-10*path[$(cmd)1]` runs `cmd` as the user when the alias is later resolved by purely local commands (`nvm ls`, `nvm alias`, `nvm use --lts`, `nvm which lts/`), and in every new shell when the `default` alias is `lts/*`. Exploitation requires the victim to use a hostile mirror -- via a compromised mirror or CDN, a network man-in-the-middle of an `http://` mirror, or a maliciously configured `NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR` -- and to run an affected command. The same sink is also reachable from a project `.nvmrc`, which is treated as hardening. dash is not affected. Version 0.41.0 only passes an all-digit `lts/-N` offset to arithmetic and drops `index.tab` rows whose version is not a valid version string.
Published: 2026-11-04
Score: 2.1 Low
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
AI Analysis

Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to nvm 0.41.0 or later, which only lets an all-digit `lts/-N` offset reach shell arithmetic and drops mirror rows with invalid version strings. (Only needed if using a non-default mirror whose metadata contents you do not trust, or running nvm in untrusted project directories.)


Vendor Workaround

Until upgrading, only run `nvm ls-remote` and LTS-refreshing commands against trusted mirrors over TLS, ensure `NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR` points only at a trusted endpoint, and do not run nvm in untrusted project directories.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Node Version Manager (nvm) is a POSIX-compliant shell function for managing multiple node.js versions. In versions 0.39.6 through 0.40.8, `nvm ls-remote` (and other commands that refresh remote LTS aliases) store the version column of the mirror's `index.tab` in `$NVM_DIR/alias/lts/` without validating it, and `nvm_normalize_lts` later evaluates any suffix of an `lts/-N` value inside shell arithmetic `$((N+1))`. Under bash and zsh, arithmetic evaluation expands command substitutions in array subscripts, so a stored value such as `lts/-10*path[$(cmd)1]` runs `cmd` as the user when the alias is later resolved by purely local commands (`nvm ls`, `nvm alias`, `nvm use --lts`, `nvm which lts/`), and in every new shell when the `default` alias is `lts/*`. Exploitation requires the victim to use a hostile mirror -- via a compromised mirror or CDN, a network man-in-the-middle of an `http://` mirror, or a maliciously configured `NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR` -- and to run an affected command. The same sink is also reachable from a project `.nvmrc`, which is treated as hardening. dash is not affected. Version 0.41.0 only passes an all-digit `lts/-N` offset to arithmetic and drops `index.tab` rows whose version is not a valid version string.
Title nvm evaluates a malicious mirror's index.tab version strings as shell arithmetic via stored LTS aliases
Weaknesses CWE-20
CWE-78
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

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

cvssV4_0

{'score': 2.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


Subscriptions

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: harborist

Published:

Updated: 2026-11-04T21:26:57.967Z

Reserved: 2026-11-03T23:39:04.553Z

Link: CVE-2026-121751

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-11-04T22:17:55.060

Modified: 2026-11-04T22:17:55.060

Link: CVE-2026-121751

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses
  • CWE-20

    Improper Input Validation

  • CWE-78

    Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')