node: Use After Free
CVE-2026-123866 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in node from Node.js, with a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 22.23.5, 24.22.3, 26.13.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating node to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.48% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update node to 22.23.5 or 24.22.3 or 26.13.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on cna.openjsf.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Node.js | node | before 22.23.5; 23.0.0 up to, but not including, 24.22.3; 25.0.0 up to, but not including, 26.13.1 | 22.23.5, 24.22.3, 26.13.1 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CNA.
Official description
A use-after-free in Node.js HTTP/2 stream teardown can leak response memory, including the contents of other connections' response buffers, to a peer. When a stream is torn down while a write is still backpressured, for example by a peer RST_STREAM or by the server's own per-stream timeout destroying the stream, the stream's response buffer is freed but a reference to it is still used, so freed or unrelated heap memory is written to the socket instead of the intended response. On Node.js 26.x and 24.x the teardown can be driven purely by a remote peer once the window-size change from 26.9.0 and 24.22.0 is present, and on all supported lines the same defect is reachable through an application-initiated teardown such as a per-stream idle timeout. This vulnerability affects Node.js 26.x, 24.x, and 22.x.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in node
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
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