# CVE-2025-23084: Node.js 18 and 3 others: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

CVE-2025-23084 is fixed in 4 products on 1 platform, first by Node.js 18 18.20.6, released January 21, 2025. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-23084
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.5
- EPSS: 0.0159
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Jan 28, 2025
- Weakness: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
- Vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-23084

## Description

A vulnerability has been identified in Node.js, specifically affecting the handling of drive names in the Windows environment. Certain Node.js functions do not treat drive names as special on Windows. As a result, although Node.js assumes a relative path, it actually refers to the root directory.    On Windows, a path that does not start with the file separator is treated as relative to the current directory.     This vulnerability affects Windows users of `path.join` API.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows apps | Node.js 18 | 18.20.6 | [Node.js 18 18.20.6](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/openjs.nodejs.18-18.20.6.md) | Jan 21, 2025 |
| Windows apps | Node.js 20 | 20.18.2 | [Node.js 20 20.18.2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/openjs.nodejs.20-20.18.2.md) | Jan 21, 2025 |
| Windows apps | Node.js 22 | 22.13.1 | [Node.js 22 22.13.1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/openjs.nodejs.22-22.13.1.md) | Jan 21, 2025 |
| Windows apps | Node.js 23 | 23.6.1 | [Node.js 23 23.6.1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/openjs.nodejs.23-23.6.1.md) | Jan 21, 2025 |

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Data as of 2026-11-09T01:18:40Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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