# CVE-2020-8252: Memory corruption in Node

> A buffer overflow in libuv's realpath implementation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via long paths.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 30 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2020-8252, BIT-node-2020-8252, BIT-node-min-2020-8252, CLEANSTART-2026-MB55413, CLEANSTART-2026-OH78893, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-8252, GHSA-c5r6-cm8r-wgh9, MGASA-2020-0398, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-8252, USN-4548-1

## What is CVE-2020-8252?

CVE-2020-8252 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 18 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The implementation of realpath in libuv < 10.22.1, < 12.18.4, and < 14.9.0 used within Node.js incorrectly determined the buffer size which can result in a buffer overflow if the resolved path is longer than 256 bytes.

Weakness: CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-8252?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including node and node-min. It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `node` | Bitnami | From 10.0.0 | 10.22.1, 12.18.4, 14.9.0 |
| `node-min` | Bitnami | From 10.0.0 | 10.22.1, 12.18.4, 14.9.0 |

Products: Fedoraproject Fedora, Nodejs Node.js, Opensuse Leap.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-8252?

Upgrade node to a fixed version for your release line: 10.22.1, 12.18.4 or 14.9.0.

## Is CVE-2020-8252 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fedoraproject Fedora

- [CVE-2024-4577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4577/): PHP-CGI OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39226/): Grafana Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-5544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5544/): VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4947/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4671/): Google Chromium Visuals Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-8252 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-8252 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 18 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- node (Bitnami): affected from 10.0.0; fixed in 10.22.1, 12.18.4, 14.9.0
- node-min (Bitnami): affected from 10.0.0; fixed in 10.22.1, 12.18.4, 14.9.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8252/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8252/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8252
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8252
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-8252

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8252/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.