CVE-2021-21298
Path traversal in Node-Red
Node-Red is a low-code programming for event-driven applications built using nodejs. Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier has a vulnerability which allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API. If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API. The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8. The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED. The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Path traversal in Node-Red
Node-Red is a low-code programming for event-driven applications built using nodejs. Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier has a vulnerability which allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API. If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API. The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8. The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED. The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
- Record
CVE-2021-21298- CVSS 3.1
- 3.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0559
Node-Red is a low-code programming for event-driven applications built using nodejs. Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier has a vulnerability which allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API. If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API. The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8. The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED. The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
- Record
EUVD-2021-0559- CVSS 3.1
- 3.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-m33v-338h-4v9f No score
Path traversal in Node-Red
Impact
This vulnerability allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API.
If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API.
Patches
The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8
Workarounds
The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED.
The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Email us at [email protected]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the Tencent Woodpecker Security Team for disclosing this vulnerability.
- Record
GHSA-m33v-338h-4v9f- Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Node-Red is a low-code programming for event-driven applications built using nodejs. Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier has a vulnerability which allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API. If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API. The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8. The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED. The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
- Record
CVE-2021-21298- CVSS 3.1
- 3.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 3.5 Low
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Node-Red is a low-code programming for event-driven applications built using nodejs. Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier has a vulnerability which allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API. If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API. The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8. The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED. The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
- Record
CVE-2021-21298- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-m33v-338h-4v9f No score
Path traversal in Node-Red
Impact
This vulnerability allows arbitrary path traversal via the Projects API.
If the Projects feature is enabled, a user with projects.read permission is able to access any file via the Projects API.
Patches
The issue has been patched in Node-RED 1.2.8
Workarounds
The vulnerability applies only to the Projects feature which is not enabled by default in Node-RED.
The primary workaround is not give untrusted users read access to the Node-RED editor.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Email us at [email protected]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the Tencent Woodpecker Security Team for disclosing this vulnerability.
- Record
GHSA-m33v-338h-4v9f- Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
@node-red/runtimenpm |
before 1.2.8 | 1.2.8 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-21298 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 3.5) in Node-red, published February 26, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.08%, the 65th percentile. Fixed in @node-red/runtime 1.2.8.
References
npmjs.com/package/%40node-red/runtime
github.com/node-red/node-red/releases/tag/1.2.8
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21298