#VU109241 Improper error handling in Node.js - CVE-2025-23166

Vulnerability identifier: #VU109241

Vulnerability risk: Medium

CVSSv4.0: 6.6 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Green]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-23166

CWE-ID: CWE-388

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Node.js
Server applications / Web servers

Vendor: Node.js Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

The vulnerability exists due to incorrect error handling in async cryptographic operations within the SignTraits::DeriveBits() function. A remote attacker can send specially crafted input to the application can crash the Node.js runtime.

Mitigation
Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Node.js: 20.0.0, 20.1.0, 20.2.0, 20.3.0, 20.3.1, 20.4.0, 20.5.0, 20.5.1, 20.6.0, 20.6.1, 20.7.0, 20.8.0, 20.8.1, 20.9.0, 20.10.0, 20.11.0, 20.11.1, 20.12.0, 20.12.1, 20.12.2, 20.13.0, 20.13.1, 20.14.0, 20.15.0, 20.15.1, 20.16.0, 20.17.0, 20.18.0, 20.18.1, 20.18.2, 20.18.3, 20.19.0, 20.19.1, 21.0.0, 21.1.0, 21.2.0, 21.3.0, 21.4.0, 21.5.0, 21.6.0, 21.6.1, 21.6.2, 21.7.0, 21.7.1, 21.7.2, 21.7.3, 22.0.0, 22.1.0, 22.2.0, 22.3.0, 22.4.0, 22.4.1, 22.5.0, 22.5.1, 22.6.0, 22.7.0, 22.8.0, 22.9.0, 22.10.0, 22.11.0, 22.12.0, 22.13.0, 22.13.1, 22.14.0, 22.15.0, 23.0.0, 23.1.0, 23.2.0, 23.3.0, 23.4.0, 23.5.0, 23.6.0, 23.6.1, 23.7.0, 23.8.0, 23.9.0, 23.10.0, 23.11.0, 24.0.0, 24.0.1

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External links
https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/may-2025-security-releases

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.