CVE-2026-73414: Shescape: Shell injection via unescaped parentheses on Windows with CMD

Published Aug 12, 2026
·
Updated

Shescape is a simple shell escape library for JavaScript. Prior to 2.1.14 and 3.0.1, getEscapeFunction in src/internal/win/cmd.js does not escape ( and ) when applications use the escape or escapeAll APIs on Windows with shell set to cmd.exe, or with shell set to true when CMD is the default. An attacker-controlled argument can break out of a parenthesized CMD construct and inject shell syntax depending on the original command, resulting in arbitrary command execution. This issue is fixed in versions 2.1.14 and 3.0.1.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Shescape<2.1.14, <3.0.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade shescape to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 2.1.14
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade shescape to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.0.1

Event History

Aug 12, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:42 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:42 PM
DescriptionWeakness
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-73414?

CVE-2026-73414 has a risk rating of 80, indicating a critical vulnerability.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-73414?

To fix CVE-2026-73414, update to version 2.1.14 or 3.0.1 of Shescape.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-73414?

CVE-2026-73414 affects applications using the Shescape library on Windows systems with CMD as the shell.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-73414?

CVE-2026-73414 is classified as an OS Command Injection vulnerability.

5

What is the impact of CVE-2026-73414?

CVE-2026-73414 allows for shell injection via unescaped parentheses, potentially enabling unauthorized command execution.

Contact

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