What is CVE-2018-12120?

CVE-2018-12120 is a high-severity vulnerability in Node.js, classified under Unprotected Primary Channel. CVSS score: 8.1/10. Published 2018-11-28.

How severe is CVE-2018-12120?

High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.1 out of 10.

Vulnerability in Node.js

CVE-2018-12120

Node.js: All versions prior to Node.js 6.15.0: Debugger port 5858 listens on any interface by default: When the debugger is enabled with `node --debug` or `node debug`, it listens to port 5858 on all interfaces by default. This may allow remote computers to attach to the debug port and evaluate arbitrary JavaScript. The default interface is now localhost. It has always been possible to start the debugger on a specific interface, such as `node --debug=localhost`. The debugger was removed in Node.js 8 and replaced with the inspector, so no versions from 8 and later are vulnerable.

Published 2018-11-28 · last modified 2026-10-08.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 8.1 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.043 (91.0th percentile), scored 2026-10-20.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 91st percentile — 91.0% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.043 · newest: 0.043 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Node.js
The Node.js Project — versions All versions prior to Node.js 6.15.0

Weakness classification (CWE)

References

nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/november-2018-security-releases/ (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/106040 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-12120?: CVE-2018-12120 is a high-severity vulnerability in Node.js, classified under Unprotected Primary Channel. CVSS score: 8.1/10. Published 2018-11-28.
How severe is CVE-2018-12120?: High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.1 out of 10.