# CVE-2023-45133: Babel vulnerable to arbitrary code execution when compiling specifically crafted malicious code > Attackers can execute arbitrary code during compilation if Babel processes malicious code using specific plugins that rely on path evaluation methods. - **Severity:** Critical 9.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Not needed - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 12 Oct 2023 - **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025 - **Also known as:** CLSA-2026-1784683001, CLSA-2026-1784683088, CLSA-2026-1784769527, CLSA-2026-1789066503, CLSA-2026-1789071169, CLSA-2026-1789955725, CLSA-2026-1792160958, CLSA-2026-1792160966, CLSA-2026-1792160967, CLSA-2026-1792160970, CLSA-2026-1792160972, CLSA-2026-1792160973, CLSA-2026-1792161422, CLSA-2026-1792161423, CLSA-2026-1792161426, CLSA-2026-1792161427, CLSA-2026-1792161620, CLSA-2026-1792161621, CLSA-2026-1792161623, CLSA-2026-1792161624, CLSA-2026-1792161625, CLSA-2026-1792161627, CLSA-2026-1792161667, CLSA-2026-1792161668, CLSA-2026-1792161735, CLSA-2026-1792161736, CLSA-2026-1792161738, CLSA-2026-1792161739, CLSA-2026-1792161740, CLSA-2026-1792161836, CLSA-2026-1792161890, CLSA-2026-1792161891, CLSA-2026-1792161893, CLSA-2026-1792161894, CLSA-2026-1792161952, CLSA-2026-1792161953, CLSA-2026-1792161955, CLSA-2026-1792161956, CLSA-2026-1792161958, CLSA-2026-1792161988, CLSA-2026-1792161989, CLSA-2026-1792161991, CLSA-2026-1792161992, CLSA-2026-1792162022, CLSA-2026-1792162024, CLSA-2026-1792162026, CLSA-2026-1792162047, CLSA-2026-1792162050, CLSA-2026-1792162051, CLSA-2026-1792162071, CLSA-2026-1792162072, CLSA-2026-1792162074, CLSA-2026-1792162076, CLSA-2026-1792162093, CLSA-2026-1792162094, CLSA-2026-1792162096, CLSA-2026-1792162097, CLSA-2026-1792162117, CLSA-2026-1792162118, CLSA-2026-1792162120, CLSA-2026-1792162141, CLSA-2026-1792162142, CLSA-2026-1792162144, CLSA-2026-1792162145, CLSA-2026-1792162160, CLSA-2026-1792162162, CLSA-2026-1792162164, CLSA-2026-1792162182, CLSA-2026-1792162184, CLSA-2026-1792162185, CLSA-2026-1792162212, CLSA-2026-1792162213, CLSA-2026-1792162215, CLSA-2026-1792162216, CLSA-2026-1792162217, CLSA-2026-1792162218, CLSA-2026-1792163440, CLSA-2026-1792163441, CLSA-2026-1792163444, CLSA-2026-1792163445, CLSA-2026-1792163446, CLSA-2026-1792163447, CLSA-2026-1792194433, CLSA-2026-1792194447, CLSA-2026-1792194448, CLSA-2026-1792194450, CLSA-2026-1792201267, CLSA-2026-1792201268, CLSA-2026-1792201276, CLSA-2026-1792278638, CLSA-2026-1792278640, CLSA-2026-1792278659, CLSA-2026-1792278660, CLSA-2026-1792283511, CLSA-2026-1792283512, CLSA-2026-1792283517, CLSA-2026-1792285566, CLSA-2026-1792285577, CLSA-2026-1792285579, CLSA-2026-1792291421, CLSA-2026-1792291422, CLSA-2026-1792291430, CLSA-2026-1792292298, CLSA-2026-1792292299, CLSA-2026-1792292304, CLSA-2026-1792304211, CLSA-2026-1792304213, CLSA-2026-1792304223, CLSA-2026-1792306777, CLSA-2026-1792306778, CLSA-2026-1792306779, CLSA-2026-1792309333, CLSA-2026-1792309334, CLSA-2026-1792342442, CLSA-2026-1792342443, CLSA-2026-1792342448, CLSA-2026-1792342450, CLSA-2026-1792361350, CLSA-2026-1792361351, CLSA-2026-1792361363, CLSA-2026-1792369493, CLSA-2026-1792369494, CLSA-2026-1792369502, CLSA-2026-1792373914, CLSA-2026-1792373923, CLSA-2026-1792373925, CLSA-2026-1792378048, CLSA-2026-1792378049, CLSA-2026-1792378055, CLSA-2026-1792384641, CLSA-2026-1792384645, CLSA-2026-1792384647, CLSA-2026-1792388615, CLSA-2026-1792388619, CLSA-2026-1792388620, CLSA-2026-1792393376, CLSA-2026-1792393377, CLSA-2026-1792393386, CLSA-2026-1792411627, CLSA-2026-1792411628, CLSA-2026-1792411634, CLSA-2026-1792418551, CLSA-2026-1792418552, CLSA-2026-1792418559, CLSA-2026-1792421258, CLSA-2026-1792421259, CLSA-2026-1792421261, CLSA-2026-1792421263, CLSA-2026-1792421264, CLSA-2026-1792421287, CLSA-2026-1792423754, CLSA-2026-1792423755, CLSA-2026-1792423757, CLSA-2026-1792423758, CLSA-2026-1792423759, CLSA-2026-1792423779, CLSA-2026-1792426995, CLSA-2026-1792426996, CLSA-2026-1792427000, CLSA-2026-1792432140, CLSA-2026-1792432146, CLSA-2026-1792432148, CLSA-2026-1792435130, CLSA-2026-1792435143, CLSA-2026-1792435145, CLSA-2026-1792438116, CLSA-2026-1792438117, CLSA-2026-1792438126, CLSA-2026-1792440914, CLSA-2026-1792440915, CLSA-2026-1792440929, CLSA-2026-1792444946, CLSA-2026-1792444948, CLSA-2026-1792444961, CLSA-2026-1792447090, CLSA-2026-1792447091, CLSA-2026-1792452566, CLSA-2026-1792452567, CLSA-2026-1792452568, CLSA-2026-1792455075, CLSA-2026-1792455076, CLSA-2026-1792455077, CLSA-2026-1792457908, CLSA-2026-1792457909, CLSA-2026-1792457914, CLSA-2026-1792460542, CLSA-2026-1792460545, CLSA-2026-1792460547, CLSA-2026-1792494692, CLSA-2026-1792494696, CLSA-2026-1792494698, CLSA-2026-1792495997, CLSA-2026-1792496004, CLSA-2026-1792496010, CLSA-2026-1792496614, CLSA-2026-1792496615, CLSA-2026-1792496622, CLSA-2026-1792498117, CLSA-2026-1792498118, CLSA-2026-1792498124, CLSA-2026-1792499600, CLSA-2026-1792499602, CLSA-2026-1792499608, CLSA-2026-1792500782, CLSA-2026-1792500783, CLSA-2026-1792500785, CLSA-2026-1792502892, CLSA-2026-1792502896, CLSA-2026-1792502898, CLSA-2026-1792504879, CLSA-2026-1792504880, CLSA-2026-1792504888, CLSA-2026-1792506472, CLSA-2026-1792506477, CLSA-2026-1792506478, CLSA-2026-1792508335, CLSA-2026-1792508336, CLSA-2026-1792508340, CLSA-2026-1792509038, CLSA-2026-1792510073, CLSA-2026-1792510075, CLSA-2026-1792510079, CLSA-2026-1792511072, CLSA-2026-1792512825, CLSA-2026-1792512826, CLSA-2026-1792512829, CLSA-2026-1792514584, CLSA-2026-1792514588, CLSA-2026-1792514591, CLSA-2026-1792516114, CLSA-2026-1792516115, CLSA-2026-1792516120, CLSA-2026-1792517647, CLSA-2026-1792517648, CLSA-2026-1792517652, CLSA-2026-1792520491, CLSA-2026-1792520492, CLSA-2026-1792520495, CLSA-2026-1792522730, CLSA-2026-1792522731, CLSA-2026-1792522737, CLSA-2026-1792525284, CLSA-2026-1792525287, CLSA-2026-1792525290, CLSA-2026-1792526962, CLSA-2026-1792526966, CLSA-2026-1792526968, CLSA-2026-1792529424, CLSA-2026-1792529429, CLSA-2026-1792529431, CLSA-2026-1792530387, CLSA-2026-1792530388, CLSA-2026-1792530389, CLSA-2026-1792532443, CLSA-2026-1792532449, CLSA-2026-1792532450, CLSA-2026-1792534212, CLSA-2026-1792537736, CLSA-2026-1792537741, CLSA-2026-1792537743, CLSA-2026-1792540673, CLSA-2026-1792540677, CLSA-2026-1792540679, CLSA-2026-1792542242, CLSA-2026-1792542243, CLSA-2026-1792542248, CLSA-2026-1792543802, CLSA-2026-1792543803, CLSA-2026-1792543805, CLSA-2026-1792545144, CLSA-2026-1792545145, CLSA-2026-1792760086, CLSA-2026-1792760136, CLSA-2026-1792760137, CLSA-2026-1792868950, CLSA-2026-1792868957, CLSA-2026-1792868962, CLSA-2026-1792868966, CLSA-2026-1793141353, CLSA-2026-1793141355, CLSA-2026-1793141506, CLSA-2026-1793141507, CLSA-2026-1793154865, CLSA-2026-1793154866, CLSA-2026-1793154947, CLSA-2026-1793159547, CLSA-2026-1793159548, CLSA-2026-1793159580, CLSA-2026-1793162323, CLSA-2026-1793162369, CLSA-2026-1793162371, CLSA-2026-1793165587, CLSA-2026-1793165588, CLSA-2026-1793165589, CLSA-2026-1793173349, CLSA-2026-1793173355, CLSA-2026-1793173357, CLSA-2026-1793173360, CLSA-2026-1793173442, CLSA-2026-1793173445, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-45133, DLA-3618-1, DSA-5528-1, GHSA-67hx-6x53-jw92, MINI-2rp2-cfqr-mcf6, MINI-67rf-52wp-99gp, ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2023-45133, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-45133 ## What is CVE-2023-45133? CVE-2023-45133 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 12 Oct 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description Babel is a compiler for writingJavaScript. In `@babel/traverse` prior to versions 7.23.2 and 8.0.0-alpha.4 and all versions of `babel-traverse`, using Babel to compile code that was specifically crafted by an attacker can lead to arbitrary code execution during compilation, when using plugins that rely on the `path.evaluate()`or `path.evaluateTruthy()` internal Babel methods. Known affected plugins are `@babel/plugin-transform-runtime`; `@babel/preset-env` when using its `useBuiltIns` option; and any "polyfill provider" plugin that depends on `@babel/helper-define-polyfill-provider`, such as `babel-plugin-polyfill-corejs3`, `babel-plugin-polyfill-corejs2`, `babel-plugin-polyfill-es-shims`, `babel-plugin-polyfill-regenerator`. No other plugins under the `@babel/` namespace are impacted, but third-party plugins might be. Users that only compile trusted code are not impacted. The vulnerability has been fixed in `@babel/traverse@7.23.2` and `@babel/traverse@8.0.0-alpha.4`. Those who cannot upgrade `@babel/traverse` and are using one of the affected packages mentioned above should upgrade them to their latest version to avoid triggering the vulnerable code path in affected `@babel/traverse` versions: `@babel/plugin-transform-runtime` v7.23.2, `@babel/preset-env` v7.23.2, `@babel/helper-define-polyfill-provider` v0.4.3, `babel-plugin-polyfill-corejs2` v0.4.6, `babel-plugin-polyfill-corejs3` v0.8.5, `babel-plugin-polyfill-es-shims` v0.10.0, `babel-plugin-polyfill-regenerator` v0.5.3. Weakness: CWE-697 (Incorrect Comparison), CWE-184 (Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-45133? 6 open source packages ship an affected version, including @babel/traverse and babel-traverse. It affects 9 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `@babel/traverse` | npm | All versions | 7.23.2 | | `@babel/traverse` | npm | All versions | 7.23.2 | | `@babel/traverse` | npm | From 8.0.0-alpha.0 | 8.0.0-alpha.4 | | `@babel/traverse` | npm | From 8.0.0-alpha.0 | 8.0.0-alpha.4 | | `babel-traverse` | npm | All versions | None | | `babel-traverse` | npm | All versions | None | Products: Babeljs Babel, Babeljs Babel-Helper-Define-Polyfill-Provider, Babeljs Babel-Plugin-Polyfill-Corejs2, Babeljs Babel-Plugin-Polyfill-Corejs3, Babeljs Babel-Plugin-Polyfill-Es-Shims, Babeljs Babel-Plugin-Polyfill-Regenerator, Babeljs Babel-Plugin-Transform-Runtime, Babeljs Babel-Preset-Env, Debian Debian Linux. ## How do I fix CVE-2023-45133? Upgrade @babel/traverse to a fixed version for your release line: 7.23.2 or 8.0.0-alpha.4. ## Is CVE-2023-45133 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-45133 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2023-45133 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2023-45133 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 12 Oct 2023. 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-2023-45133 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - @babel/traverse (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 7.23.2 - @babel/traverse (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 7.23.2 - @babel/traverse (npm): affected from 8.0.0-alpha.0; fixed in 8.0.0-alpha.4 - @babel/traverse (npm): affected from 8.0.0-alpha.0; fixed in 8.0.0-alpha.4 - babel-traverse (npm): affected all versions; no fix listed - babel-traverse (npm): affected all versions; no fix listed 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-2023-45133/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45133/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45133 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45133 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45133 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45133/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.