CVE-2020-28445Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary command execution via crafted module name

Published Jul 25, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Command injection in playmanme npm-help allows attackers to execute arbitrary operating-system commands through a crafted module name. The export.latestVersion() function in index.js inserts its module argument into a shell command without neutralizing command separators. Exploitation requires a caller to pass attacker-controlled text as the module name; injected commands run with the Node.js process privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in playmanme npm-help allows attackers to execute arbitrary operating-system commands through a crafted module name. The export.latestVersion() function in index.js inserts its module argument into a shell command without neutralizing command separators. Exploitation requires a caller to pass attacker-controlled text as the module name; injected commands run with the Node.js process privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28445
Published
Jul 25, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
playmanme
Product
npm-help
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 25, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <unspecified

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

playmanme · npm-helpversion=0 <unspecified

Published CVSS scores

9.8SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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