Node.js patches Brotli flaw that can enable remote code execution
OpenAI researchers found an out-of-bounds write in Brotli, a compression library bundled with Node.js, that can let attackers run code through crafted compressed data. Node.js released fixes on 21 October 2026 for its supported 22.x, 24.x and 26.x lines; the updates also address other security flaws and block compromised eMudhra certificates, according to heise online.
Bottom line — Node.js users should update to 22.23.4, 24.22.1 or 26.12.1; unsupported release lines are also affected.
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Crypto Briefing reports the flaw is tracked as CVE-2026-111497 and rated high severity, with a CVSS score of 9.2.
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The flaw can be exploited without authentication and affects both client-side and server-side applications, Crypto Briefing says.
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Crypto Briefing reports that Bun versions before 1.4.4, Envoy and several Python packages are also affected.
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Researchers have demonstrated a working exploit against affected Node.js builds, according to Crypto Briefing and IT Security News.
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Node.js updates also fix certificate-verification and DNS-resolution flaws, and include updates to dependencies such as OpenSSL and SQLite, heise online reports.
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The Node.js team warns that unsupported release lines are affected too, heise online says.