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CVE-2018-21268

Status: ModifiedCritical (9.8)—💥 PoC

The traceroute (aka node-traceroute) package through 1.0.0 for Node.js allows remote command injection via the host parameter. This occurs because the Child.exec() method, which is considered to be not entirely safe, is used. In particular, an OS command can be placed after a newline character.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

💥 Public exploits

Exploit code or detection templates are publicly available. This is not the same as confirmed active exploitation (KEV), but it raises the risk: patch with priority.

⚠️ GitHub proofs of concept are not verified: some are fake or contain malware. Never run them outside an isolated lab.

Affected technologies (1)

Traceroute Project — Traceroute

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2018-21268",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
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          "baseScore": 7.5,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 6.4,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 10,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
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        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
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        "type": "Secondary",
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        "cvssData": {
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          "version": "3.1",
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          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9
      },
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
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  "published": "2020-06-25T17:15:11.567",
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      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
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  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
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      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-74"
        }
      ]
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  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "The traceroute (aka node-traceroute) package through 1.0.0 for Node.js allows remote command injection via the host parameter. This occurs because the Child.exec() method, which is considered to be not entirely safe, is used. In particular, an OS command can be placed after a newline character."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "El paquete traceroute (también se conoce como node-traceroute) versiones hasta 1.0.0 para Node.js, permite una inyección de comandos remota por medio del parámetro host. Esto ocurre porque es usado el método Child.exec(), que es considerado no del todo seguro. En particular, un comando del Sistema Operativo puede ser colocado después de un carácter newline"
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T01:54:30.007",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
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              "versionEndIncluding": "1.0.0"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}