CVE-2021-43616

CRITICAL

npm 7.0.0-8.1.3 - Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity in npm ci Command

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2021-43616. PoCs published by icatalina.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository demonstrates CVE-2021-43616, a dependency confusion vulnerability in npm where `npm ci` installs a newer version of a package than specified in `package-lock.json`. The PoC shows how `shortid` version 2.2.x is installed instead of the locked version 2.0.0.

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.

Exploits (1)

nomisec WORKING POC 3 stars
by icatalina · poc
https://github.com/icatalina/CVE-2021-43616

This repository demonstrates CVE-2021-43616, a dependency confusion vulnerability in npm where `npm ci` installs a newer version of a package than specified in `package-lock.json`. The PoC shows how `shortid` version 2.2.x is installed instead of the locked version 2.0.0.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: npm CLI (version 8)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A project with a `package-lock.json` file specifying an older version of a package · npm CLI version 8
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

Scores

CVSS v3 9.0
EPSS 0.0253
EPSS Percentile 82.8%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-345
Status published
Products (3)
fedoraproject/fedora 35
netapp/next_generation_application_programming_interface
npmjs/npm 7.0.0 - 7.24.2
Published Nov 13, 2021
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026