CVE-2025-23061 Mongoose search injection vulnerability

Critical 9.0 Published 15 Jan 2025 Updated 15 Jan 2025

Attackers can execute arbitrary code via search injection in Mongoose ODM using nested $where filters with populate().

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2025-23061?

CVE-2025-23061 is a critical code injection vulnerability in mongoosejs Mongoose, published on 15 Jan 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Mongoose before 8.9.5 can improperly use a nested $where filter with a populate() match, leading to search injection. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2024-53900.

Weakness: CWE-94

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-23061?

7 open source packages ship an affected version, including mongoose. It affects 1 product.

Package	Affected	Fixed in
`mongoose` Bitnami	From `6.0.0`	`6.13.6, 7.8.4, 8.9.5`
`mongoose` npm	All versions	`6.13.6`
`mongoose` npm	All versions	`6.13.6`
`mongoose` npm	From `7.0.0-rc0`	`7.8.4`
`mongoose` npm	From `7.0.0-rc0`	`7.8.4`
`mongoose` npm	From `8.0.0-rc0`	`8.9.5`

1 more packages

mongoose npm From 8.0.0-rc0 8.9.5

Products include Mongoosejs Mongoose.

How do I fix CVE-2025-23061?

Upgrade mongoose to a fixed version for your release line: 6.13.6, 7.8.4 or 8.9.5.

Upgrade, and never evaluate templates, expressions or code built from user input. More about Code injection.

Is CVE-2025-23061 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-23061 exists.

Public exploit code: 1 Nuclei template and 2 proofs of concept on GitHub.

Sources

Also known as BIT-mongoose-2025-23061, CLSA-2026-1774916722, CLSA-2026-1777250310, GHSA-vg7j-7cwx-8wgw, ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2025-23061.