---
title: "CVE-2019-13173\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-13173?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2019-13173

Publication date 2 July 2019

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-13173?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

fstream before 1.0.12 is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Overwrite. Extracting
tarballs containing a hardlink to a file that already exists in the system,
and a file that matches the hardlink, will overwrite the system's file with
the contents of the extracted file. The fstream.DirWriter() function is
vulnerable.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

It was discovered that npm/fstream incorrectly handled certain crafted
tarballs. An attacker could use this vulnerability to write aritrary files to
the filesystem.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-13173?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| node-fstream | 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 1.0.12-1 |
| 21.10 impish | Fixed 1.0.12-1 |
| 21.04 hirsute | Fixed 1.0.12-1 |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 1.0.12-1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 1.0.12-1 |
| 19.10 eoan | Fixed 1.0.12-1 |
| 19.04 disco | Fixed 1.0.10-1ubuntu0.19.04.2 |
| 18.10 cosmic | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 1.0.10-1ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 0.1.24-1ubuntu0.16.04.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 0.1.24-1ubuntu0.14.04.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

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## Notes

---

### [ebarretto](https://launchpad.net/~ebarretto)

According to a Github comment, the fix might not be enough.

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | None |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2019-13173)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-13173)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2019-13173)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2019-13173)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-4123-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-4123-1)
+ npm/fstream vulnerability
+ 5 September 2019

+ [USN-4863-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-4863-1)
+ fstream vulnerability
+ 15 March 2021

### Other references

* <https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/886>
* <https://github.com/npm/fstream/commit/6a77d2fa6e1462693cf8e46f930da96ec1b0bb22>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-13173>