better-npm-audit through 3.11.0, and the 4.0.0-rc.2 prerelease, builds its npm audit command by interpolating the user-supplied --registry option into a command string in src/handlers/handleInput.ts without validation or quoting, then passes that string to child_process.exec() in index.ts, which spawns a shell. A registry value containing shell metacharacters such as a semicolon, pipe, or command substitution executes arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the process running the audit.
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/better-npm-audit-os-command-injection-via-registry-flag
https://github.com/jeemok/better-npm-audit/pull/120
Published: 2026-08-22
Updated: 2026-08-22
Base Score: 7.2
Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Severity: High
Base Score: 7.8
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity: High
Base Score: 8.5
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Severity: High