Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-23374 is a command injection flaw in the npm package ps-visitor. If an application passes attacker-controlled input into its kill function, that input may be executed as an operating-system command. Business risk depends on whether the package is present and reachable through user-facing workflows.
Executive priority
Prioritize this as a high-risk dependency issue where ps-visitor is deployed in reachable services. It is not documented as actively exploited in the supplied sources, but command execution potential warrants prompt inventory and removal or containment.
Technical view
The source bundle states all versions of ps-visitor are affected. The vulnerable kill function uses Node.js child_process exec without sanitizing input. CVSS 3.1 is 7.3 high with network attack vector and no required privileges or user interaction, but real exposure depends on application wiring.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Node.js applications that include ps-visitor and allow untrusted input to influence process-management calls, especially kill. Inventory should include direct and transitive dependencies, then confirm whether reachable code paths pass user-controlled values.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. It says exploitation is possible when attacker-controlled input reaches kill. Treat exploit status as unconfirmed, not absent.
Researcher notes
Key validation question: can attacker-controlled data reach kill. The CVSS vector indicates remotely triggerable potential, but the package flaw alone does not prove application-level reachability. The bundle does not provide a fixed version or complete remediation detail.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory applications and dependency lockfiles for ps-visitor usage.
- Remove or replace ps-visitor where feasible.
- Prevent untrusted input from reaching ps-visitor kill calls.
- Check package maintainer or advisory guidance for any available fix.
- Restrict access to features that invoke process-management behavior.
Validation and detection
- Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for ps-visitor.
- Trace application calls to ps-visitor kill.
- Confirm whether any call path accepts external input.
- Review input validation around process identifiers or command-like values.
- Verify remediation by dependency scan and code review.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-23374 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P3.93.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-PSVISITOR-1078544CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/WisdomKwan/ps-visitor/blob/cdfc934a8e4af95aa0473f4b2a4bd091d09faf2f/index.js%23L404CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.