fs.futimes() Bypasses Read-Only Permission Model

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

not scored

EPSS

• CVE-2025-55132: 0.26% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 17.83 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

A flaw in Node.js's permission model allows a file's access and modification timestamps to be changed via `futimes()` even when the process has only read permissions. Unlike `utimes()`, `futimes()` does not apply the expected write-permission checks, which means file metadata can be modified in read-only directories. This behavior could be used to alter timestamps in ways that obscure activity, reducing the reliability of logs. This vulnerability affects users of the permission model on Node.js v20, v22, v24, and v25.

Published by the source

12 Jan 2026, 00:00 UTC

Last modified by the source

12 Jan 2026, 00:00 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:40 UTC

1. Revision 2 · published · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from vendor_advisory record nodejs-security-wg:core:158

2. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Created from vendor_advisory record nodejs-security-wg:core:158

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2025-55132

Advisory: fs.futimes() Bypasses Read-Only Permission Model
IDs: CVE-2025-55132
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2025-55132 (revision 2, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:40 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Unrated
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: node 25.3.0, 24.13.0, 22.22.0, 20.20.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- runtime node: affected >= 20.0.0, < 20.20.0; >= 22.0.0, < 22.22.0; >= 24.0.0, < 24.13.0; >= 25.0.0, < 25.3.0; fixed in 24.13.0, 20.20.0, 25.3.0, 22.22.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- runtime node: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on node.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://nodejs.org/dist/index.json (The nodejs.org release index dates the first patched release for CVE-2025-55132 to 2026-01-12.)
- Verified: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nodejs/security-wg/main/vuln/core/158.json (Node.js security working group core entry 158 lists CVE-2025-55132 affecting node >=20.0.0 =22.0.0 =24.0.0 =25.0.0 <25.3.0)

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