CVE-2021-22883

CVE-2021-22883 is a high-severity vulnerability in Nodejs Node.js with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 77% places it in the 100th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-772.

Key facts

Description

Node.js before 10.24.0, 12.21.0, 14.16.0, and 15.10.0 is vulnerable to a denial of service attack when too many connection attempts with an 'unknownProtocol' are established. This leads to a leak of file descriptors. If a file descriptor limit is configured on the system, then the server is unable to accept new connections and prevent the process also from opening, e.g. a file. If no file descriptor limit is configured, then this lead to an excessive memory usage and cause the system to run out of memory.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-22883?
Node.js before 10.24.0, 12.21.0, 14.16.0, and 15.10.0 is vulnerable to a denial of service attack when too many connection attempts with an 'unknownProtocol' are established. This leads to a leak of file descriptors. If a file descriptor limit is configured on the system, then the server is unable to accept new connections and prevent the process also from opening, e.g. a file. If no file descriptor limit is configured, then this lead to an excessive memory usage and cause the system to run out of memory.
How severe is CVE-2021-22883?
CVE-2021-22883 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-22883 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 77% (100th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-22883?
CVE-2021-22883 primarily affects Nodejs Node.js. In total, 15 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-22883?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-22883 published?
CVE-2021-22883 was published on 2021-03-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (15)

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