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CVE Record

CVE-2025-55131: A flaw in Node.js's buffer allocation logic can expose uninitialized memory when allocations are interrupte...

A flaw in Node.js's buffer allocation logic can expose uninitialized memory when allocations are interrupted, when using the `vm` module with the timeout option. Under specific timing conditions, buffers allocated with `Buffer.alloc` and other `TypedArray` instances like `Uint8Array` may contain leftover data from previous operations, allowing in-process secrets like tokens or passwords to leak or causing data corruption. While exploitation typically requires precise timing or in-process code execution, it can become remotely exploitable when untrusted input influences workload and timeouts, leading to potential confidentiality and integrity impact.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Node.js flaw can cause supposedly zero-filled memory allocations to contain leftover process data when interrupted by vm timeouts. Secrets handled by the same process could leak or data could be corrupted. The public sources rate it high severity, but exploitation appears timing-dependent and no KEV-listed active exploitation is cited.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority patching and exposure review item for Node.js platforms that execute user-controlled code. For ordinary Node.js web apps without vm timeout use, urgency is lower but still warrants inventory and vendor-guided updates.

Technical view

The issue affects Node.js buffer allocation logic under specific timing conditions involving the vm module timeout option. Buffer.alloc and TypedArray instances such as Uint8Array may expose uninitialized memory from previous operations. The supplied CVSS is 7.1 with high confidentiality and integrity impact, high attack complexity, and low privileges required.

Likely exposure

Highest concern is Node.js services that run sandboxed or untrusted JavaScript with vm timeouts, especially multi-tenant runners or systems where user input can influence workload timing. Exposure is lower for applications that do not use vm timeout behavior or do not execute untrusted in-process code.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. The described path generally requires precise timing or in-process code execution. It may become remotely exploitable only where remote users can influence workloads and timeout behavior around affected allocations.

Researcher notes

Key uncertainty is practical reachability. The vulnerable condition is specific: interrupted allocations during vm timeout behavior. Validate by code-path review and runtime inventory rather than assuming all Node.js applications are equally exposed. Do not infer active exploitation from severity alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Node.js security release guidance for CVE-2025-55131 when applicable.
  • Apply Red Hat errata updates for affected packaged Node.js deployments.
  • Avoid running untrusted code with vm timeouts until remediated.
  • Limit user control over script workloads, timeout settings, and allocation-heavy paths.
  • Isolate multi-tenant execution from processes handling secrets.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Node.js versions across hosts, containers, CI images, and serverless runtimes.
  • Review applications for vm module usage with the timeout option.
  • Identify paths where untrusted input can influence in-process script execution.
  • Check whether Buffer.alloc or TypedArray allocation occurs near timeout-controlled execution.
  • Confirm deployed packages match Node.js or Red Hat advisory remediation guidance.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-120: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-497: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-55131 mapping review

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

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

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.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
21Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.1CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L1.65.5hackerone
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L1.65.5redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-55131Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPnodejs: Nodejs uninitialized memory exposure
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-01-20T21:02:45.759Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-01-20T20:41:55.591Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
nodejsnode20.19.6, 22.21.1, 24.12.0, 25.2.1, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0, 17.0, 18.0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-120CWE-497

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