Summary
zx Uses Incorrectly-Resolved Name or Reference
When zx is invoked with --prefer-local=, the CLI creates a symlink named ./node_modules pointing to /node_modules. Due to a logic error in src/cli.ts (linkNodeModules / cleanup), the function returns the target path instead of the alias (symlink path). The later cleanup routine removes what it received, which deletes the target directory itself. Result: zx can delete an external /node_modules outside the current working directory.
Impact
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-13437? CVE-2025-13437 is a medium-severity security vulnerability in zx (npm), affecting versions < 8.8.5. It is fixed in 8.8.5.
- Which versions of zx are affected by CVE-2025-13437? zx (npm) versions < 8.8.5 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-13437? Yes. CVE-2025-13437 is fixed in 8.8.5. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2025-13437 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-13437 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-13437 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-13437? Upgrade
zxto 8.8.5 or later.