Is CVE-2018-12120 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2018-12120 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2018-12120 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2018-12120 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-12120?

CVE-2018-12120 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (HIGH).

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HIGH

CVE-2018-12120

CWE-419Published: November 28, 2018· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.1

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Node.js: All versions prior to Node.js 6.15.0: Debugger port 5858 listens on any interface by default: When the debugger is enabled with `node --debug` or `node debug`, it listens to port 5858 on all interfaces by default. This may allow remote computers to attach to the debug port and evaluate arbitrary JavaScript. The default interface is now localhost. It has always been possible to start the debugger on a specific interface, such as `node --debug=localhost`. The debugger was removed in Node.js 8 and replaced with the inspector, so no versions from 8 and later are vulnerable.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2018-12120 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.1.