---
id: CVE-2026-21715
title: "A flaw in Node.js Permission Model filesystem enforcement leaves `fs.realpathSync.native()` without the required read permission checks, while all comparable filesystem functions correctly enforce them.\r\n\r\nAs a result, code running under…"
summary: "A flaw in Node.js Permission Model filesystem enforcement leaves `fs.realpathSync.native()` without the required read permission checks, while all comparable filesystem functions correctly enforce them.\r\n\r\nAs a result, code running under…"
severity: low
cvss: 3.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-732
vendor: nodejs
product: node.js
affected:
  - node.js <= 20.20.1
  - 'node.js >= 22.0.0, <= 22.22.1'
  - 'node.js >= 24.0.0, <= 24.14.0'
  - 'node.js >= 25.0.0, <= 25.8.1'
published: '2026-03-30'
updated: '2026-08-19'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-21715'
references:
  - url: 'https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/march-2026-security-releases'
    label: support@hackerone.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00158
epssPercentile: 0.04184
ingestedAt: '2026-08-19T13:39:32.858Z'
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-04-01T14:55:13.031405Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw in Node.js Permission Model filesystem enforcement leaves `fs.realpathSync.native()` without the required read permission checks, while all comparable filesystem functions correctly enforce them.

As a result, code running under `--permission` with restricted `--allow-fs-read` can still use `fs.realpathSync.native()` to check file existence, resolve symlink targets, and enumerate filesystem paths outside of permitted directories.

This vulnerability affects **20.x, 22.x, 24.x, and 25.x** processes using the Permission Model where `--allow-fs-read` is intentionally restricted.

## Affected

- `node.js <= 20.20.1`
- `node.js >= 22.0.0, <= 22.22.1`
- `node.js >= 24.0.0, <= 24.14.0`
- `node.js >= 25.0.0, <= 25.8.1`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.