OpenSSL security releases do not require Node.js security releases

Sam Roberts

Update

The OpenSSL project has released a description of the issue fixed in the OpenSSL 1.1.1g update. It only affects a function which is not called by Node.js (or its dependencies), and as such, does not affect Node.js.

No Node.js security releases are required.

For more information, see the OpenSSL announcement.

The previous Node.js announcement can be found below.

Summary

The Node.js project may be releasing new versions across all of its supported release lines early next week to incorporate upstream patches from OpenSSL. Please read on for full details.

OpenSSL

The OpenSSL project announced this week that they will be releasing version 1.1.1g on the 21st of April. The highest severity issue that will be fixed in the release is "HIGH" severity under their security policy, meaning they are:

... issues that are of a lower risk than critical, perhaps due to affecting less common configurations, or which are less likely to be exploitable.

All supported versions of Node.js use OpenSSL v1.1.1, therefore all active release lines are impacted by this update: v10.x, v12.x, v13.x, and v14.x ( 14.0.0 is to be released on the 21st of April, by coincidence).

At this stage, due to embargo, the exact nature of these defects is uncertain as well as the impact they will have on Node.js users.

After assessing the impact on Node.js, it will be decided whether the issues fixed require immediate security releases of Node.js, or whether they can be included in the normally scheduled updates.

Please monitor the nodejs-sec Google Group for updates, including a decision within 24 hours after the OpenSSL release regarding release timing, and full details of the defects upon eventual release: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/nodejs-sec

Contact and future updates

The current Node.js security policy can be found at https://github.com/nodejs/node/security/policy#security, including information on how to report a vulnerability in Node.js.

Subscribe to the low-volume announcement-only nodejs-sec mailing list at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/nodejs-sec to stay up to date on security vulnerabilities and security-related releases of Node.js and the projects maintained in the nodejs GitHub organization.

Last Updated
Apr 21, 2020
Reading Time
2 min read
Contribute
Edit this page
Table of Contents
  1. Update
  2. Summary
  3. OpenSSL
  4. Contact and future updates