CVE-2018-7158: The `'path'` module in the Node.js 4.x release line contains a potential regular expression denial of service (ReDoS) vector. The code in question was...

Description

The `'path'` module in the Node.js 4.x release line contains a potential regular expression denial of service (ReDoS) vector. The code in question was replaced in Node.js 6.x and later so this vulnerability only impacts all versions of Node.js 4.x. The regular expression, `splitPathRe`, used within the `'path'` module for the various path parsing functions, including `path.dirname()`, `path.extname()` and `path.parse()` was structured in such a way as to allow an attacker to craft a string, that when passed through one of these functions, could take a significant amount of time to evaluate, potentially leading to a full denial of service.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.5/10

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

EPSS Probability

3.38%

87.3th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-185

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Nodejs	Node.Js	>= 4.0.0, <= 4.1.2
Nodejs	Node.Js	>= 4.2.0, <= 4.9.1

References

https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/march-2018-security-releases/Vendor Advisory
https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/march-2018-security-releases/Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: May 17, 2018
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-7158?

The `'path'` module in the Node.js 4.x release line contains a potential regular expression denial of service (ReDoS) vector. The code in question was replaced in Node.js 6.x and later so this vulnerability only impacts all versions of Node.js 4.x. The regular expression, `splitPathRe`, used within the `'path'` module for the various path parsing functions, including `path.dirname()`, `path.extname()` and `path.parse()` was structured in such a way as to allow an attacker to craft a string, that when passed through one of these functions, could take a significant amount of time to evaluate, potentially leading to a full denial of service.

How severe is CVE-2018-7158?

CVE-2018-7158 has a CVSS score of 7.5/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 3.38% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2018-7158?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

How Strix Helps

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