---
id: CVE-2026-121750
title: >-
  nvm install --offline installs a cached tarball that previously failed
  checksum verification
summary: >-
  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`…
severity: low
cvss: 3.1
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-494
  - CWE-459
vendor: nvm-sh
product: nvm
affected:
  - nvm >= 0.40.5 < 0.41.0
published: '2026-11-04'
updated: '2026-11-04'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-04T21:28:43.821Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-121750'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/security/advisories/GHSA-262q-c465-prmr'
    label: GHSA-262q-c465-prmr
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/commit/1f99e4c20bb92c5737b92512446acf8e303b1edd
    label: Fix commit 1f99e4c2
tags:
  - cve.org
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T21:36:00.615Z'
---

## Overview

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.

## Affected

- `nvm >= 0.40.5 < 0.41.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade to nvm 0.41.0 or later, which removes an archive that fails verification instead of caching it.

### Workarounds

Until upgrading, after any "Checksums do not match" error, run `nvm cache clear` before using `nvm install --offline`.