CVE-2021-43616
9.0 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2021-43616 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting npmjs npm. It was published on November 13, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.0 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.0, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
The npm ci command in npm 7.x and 8.x through 8.1.3 proceeds with an installation even if dependency information in package-lock.json differs from package.json. This behavior is inconsistent with the documentation, and makes it easier for attackers to install malware that was supposed to have been blocked by an exact version match requirement in package-lock.json. NOTE: The npm team believes this is not a vulnerability. It would require someone to socially engineer package.json which has different dependencies than package-lock.json. That user would have to have file system or write access to change dependencies. The npm team states preventing malicious actors from socially engineering or gaining file system access is outside the scope of the npm CLI.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from npmjs. Update npm to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| npmjs | npm | 7.0.0 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-43616?
CVE-2021-43616 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting npmjs npm. It was published on November 13, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.0 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2021-43616?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.0, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-43616?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from npmjs. Update npm to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-43616?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-43616 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
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Browser-based exploitation validates findings with real proof-of-concept.
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