Policy bypass via exposed Module._load
Published Aug 21, 2023 · Updated Jul 2, 2025
Policy bypass in Node.js 16.x, 18.x, and 20.x allows attackers to load modules excluded by an experimental policy.json. CommonJS exposes the Module constructor through module.constructor, and its static _load method resolves excluded built-ins without the manifest dependency check. Exploitation requires an application that enables experimental policies and executes attacker-influenced JavaScript; the bypass then grants access to restricted modules such as child_process.
Summary
What happened
Policy bypass in Node.js 16.x, 18.x, and 20.x allows attackers to load modules excluded by an experimental policy.json. CommonJS exposes the Module constructor through module.constructor, and its static _load method resolves excluded built-ins without the manifest dependency check. Exploitation requires an application that enables experimental policies and executes attacker-influenced JavaScript; the bypass then grants access to restricted modules such as child_process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-32002
- Published
- Aug 21, 2023
- Updated
- Jul 2, 2025
- Vendor
- Node.js
- Product
- Node.js
- Classifications
- CWE-288, T1059.007
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 2, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0 <10.*
- Affected versionversion=11.0 <11.*
- Affected versionversion=12.0 <12.*
- Affected versionversion=13.0 <13.*
- Affected versionversion=14.0 <14.*
- Affected versionversion=15.0 <15.*
- Affected versionversion=16.0 <16.20.2
- Affected versionversion=17.0 <17.*
- Affected versionversion=18.0 <18.17.1
- Affected versionversion=19.0 <19.*
- Affected versionversion=20.0 <20.5.1
- Affected versionversion=4.0 <4.*
- Affected versionversion=5.0 <5.*
- Affected versionversion=6.0 <6.*
- Affected versionversion=7.0 <7.*
- Affected versionversion=8.0 <8.*
- Affected versionversion=9.0 <9.*
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Node.js module-constructor-bypass regression testproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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