# CVE-2026-121750: nvm install --offline installs a cached tarball that previously failed checksum verification

Status: published. Published: 2026-11-04. Updated: 2026-11-04.

Node Version Manager (nvm) is a POSIX-compliant shell function for managing multiple node.js versions. In versions 0.40.5 through 0.40.8, `nvm_download_artifact` downloads a release archive directly to its final path in `$NVM_DIR/.cache` and verifies its checksum afterwards; on a checksum mismatch it reports an error but leaves the rejected archive in place. A later `nvm install --offline` of the same version installs that cached file without a checksum, so an archive that was just rejected gets installed and its `node` and `npm` run. This gives code execution to a party who can alter the downloaded tarball (for example a poisoned CDN or cache object) but cannot also forge the `SHASUMS256.txt` beside it, if the victim runs `nvm install --offline` for that version after the visible "Checksums do not match" failure and before any online retry. Version 0.41.0 only puts an archive in the cache once its checksum has passed.

## Remediation

- fix: Upgrade to nvm 0.41.0 or later, which removes an archive that fails verification instead of caching it. (source: CNA: harborist)
- workaround: Until upgrading, after any "Checksums do not match" error, run `nvm cache clear` before using `nvm install --offline`. (source: CNA: harborist)
- fix: The reporting source identifies this reference as a patch. Check the advisory for affected versions and supported release branches. (source: CNA: harborist) — https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/commit/1f99e4c20bb92c5737b92512446acf8e303b1edd

## Affected products and versions

- nvm-sh / nvm: ≥ 0.40.5; < 0.41.0 (affected, semver). Source: CNA: harborist

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 4.0: 2.1 (low); CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N; source: CNA: harborist

- CVSS 3.1: 3.1 (low); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N; source: CNA: harborist

- CVSS 4.0: 2.1 (low); CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X; source: NVD: 7ffcee3d-2c14-4c3e-b844-86c6a321a158

- CVSS 3.1: 3.1 (low); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N; source: NVD: 7ffcee3d-2c14-4c3e-b844-86c6a321a158

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: Not available

- SSVC: Not available

- Weaknesses: CWE-494, CWE-459

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/security/advisories/GHSA-262q-c465-prmr (CNA: harborist; vendor-advisory)

- https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/commit/1f99e4c20bb92c5737b92512446acf8e303b1edd (CNA: harborist; patch)

- https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/commit/1f99e4c20bb92c5737b92512446acf8e303b1edd (7ffcee3d-2c14-4c3e-b844-86c6a321a158)

- https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/security/advisories/GHSA-262q-c465-prmr (7ffcee3d-2c14-4c3e-b844-86c6a321a158)

## Provenance

- CNA: harborist: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-121750; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-11-04

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121750; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-04

Revision: 44c0275cb0ae2da0e8b6446cc49354bcffdbe44883be2500983577169312706a

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-121750

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