LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2017-18869: A TOCTOU issue in the chownr package before 1.1.0 for Node.js 10.10 could allow a local attacker to trick i...

A TOCTOU issue in the chownr package before 1.1.0 for Node.js 10.10 could allow a local attacker to trick it into descending into unintended directories via symlink attacks.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This issue affects the Node.js chownr package before 1.1.0. A local attacker could exploit a timing flaw involving symbolic links to make the package operate inside directories it did not intend to enter. Business risk depends on whether affected code runs on shared systems or handles attacker-controlled filesystem paths.

Executive priority

Treat this as a dependency hygiene and shared-system hardening issue, not an internet-scale emergency based on the provided evidence. Prioritize remediation where local users, CI jobs, or automation can influence filesystem paths.

Technical view

CVE-2017-18869 is a TOCTOU flaw in chownr before 1.1.0 for Node.js 10.10. During recursive ownership handling, symlink changes could trick it into descending into unintended directories. The cited record identifies local attack context, but does not provide CVSS, CWE, or detailed impact metrics.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in Node.js applications or tooling that depend on chownr below 1.1.0, especially on systems where local users or jobs can influence filesystem paths processed by that package.

Exploitation context

The CVE source describes a local attacker and symlink attack path. The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing, confirmed active exploitation, public exploit maturity, or remote attack capability.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited in the source bundle: no CVSS vector, CWE mapping, or exploitation confirmation is provided. Analysis should focus on dependency presence, local attack preconditions, symlink exposure, and whether ownership-changing workflows can affect sensitive directories.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade chownr to version 1.1.0 or later where feasible.
  • Check package-lock, npm-shrinkwrap, yarn.lock, pnpm-lock, or SBOM data for vulnerable versions.
  • Prioritize shared hosts, build systems, and privileged filesystem automation.
  • Restrict local users from controlling directories processed by chownr-dependent workflows.
  • Review vendor and distribution advisories for environment-specific remediation guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory direct and transitive dependencies for chownr versions below 1.1.0.
  • Confirm whether affected code runs under Node.js 10.10 as cited.
  • Identify workflows that process local user-controlled paths or symlinks.
  • Check whether affected hosts are multi-user or run filesystem tasks with elevated privileges.
  • Document compensating controls if package upgrade is not immediately possible.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2017-18869 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.