---
title: "CVE-2023-49210: openssl npm package vulnerable to command execution"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-49210/
description: "CVE-2023-49210 (openssl (npm)): The openssl (aka node-openssl) NPM package through 2.0.0 was characterized as \"a nonsense wrapper with no real purpose\" by…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-11-23
date_modified: 2024-08-02
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-49210"
kev: false
cvss: 9.8
epss: 0.01909
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-49210: openssl npm package vulnerable to command execution

**Signal:** Critical and remotely reachable. No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 1.9% , percentile 80: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.9% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 80% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes openssl (npm) <= 2.0.0, no fixed version listed . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

The openssl (aka node-openssl) NPM package through 2.0.0 was characterized as "a nonsense wrapper with no real purpose" by its author, and accepts an opts argument that contains a verb field (used for command execution). NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.

## Affected packages

- npm `openssl` <= 2.0.0 → fixed: none listed

## Affected products (CVE record)

- n/a n/a: see advisory

## Severity

- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.91% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 80.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-75w2-qv55-x7fv](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-75w2-qv55-x7fv)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-49210](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-49210)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-49210](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-49210)
- [gist.github.com](https://gist.github.com/mcoimbra/b05a55a5760172dccaa0a827647ad63e)
- [github.com](https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/tree/main/malicious/npm)
- [npmjs.com](https://www.npmjs.com/package/openssl)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-49210/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt