CVE-2026-9277

shell-quote `quote()` does not validate object-token shapes, allowing command injection via line terminators in `.op`

State
Published
Severity
9.2 Critical
Published
May 22, 2026
Updated
Sep 14, 2026
Reserved
May 22, 2026

Read the record on cve.org

Description

shell-quote's `quote()` function did not validate object-token inputs against the operator model used by `parse()`. The `.op` field was backslash-escaped character by character using `/(.)/g`, which in JavaScript does not match line terminators (\n, \r, U+2028, U+2029). A line terminator in `.op` therefore passed through unescaped into the output; POSIX shells treat a literal newline as a command separator, so any content after it would execute as a second command. The vulnerable code path is reachable in two ways: (1) direct construction of `{ op: '...\n...' }` from external input, and (2) via `parse(cmd, envFn)` when `envFn` returns object tokens whose `.op` is attacker-influenced. Both are documented API surface. Fixed by replacing the per-character escape with strict shape validation: `.op` must match the parser's control-operator allowlist; `{ op: 'glob', pattern }` validates `pattern` and forbids line terminators; `{ comment }` validates `comment` and forbids line terminators; any other object shape throws `TypeError`.

Scores

CVSSScoreVectorSource
4.09.2 CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:Nharborist
3.18.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hharborist
3.18.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hredhat-SADP

Weaknesses

  • CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
  • CWE-77 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')

Affected Products

ProductVersions
shell-quote
  • 1.1.0 to before 1.8.4Affected

References

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