CVE-2026-57998 better-npm-audit OS Command Injection via registry flag
Attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands by supplying malicious shell metacharacters in the registry flag to the better-npm-audit tool.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-57998?
CVE-2026-57998 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in jeemok better-npm-audit, published on 22 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
better-npm-audit through 3.11.0, and the 4.0.0-rc.2 prerelease, builds its npm audit command by interpolating the user-supplied --registry option into a command string in src/handlers/handleInput.ts without validation or quoting, then passes that string to child_process.exec() in index.ts, which spawns a shell. A registry value containing shell metacharacters such as a semicolon, pipe, or command substitution executes arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the process running the audit.
Weakness: CWE-78
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-57998?
How do I fix CVE-2026-57998?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-57998 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.
Is CVE-2026-57998 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-57998 exists.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-f8p4-pxm9-xwx5.