Security Bulletin
Summary
IBM Documentation Offline utilizes Node.js as a third-party component, which contains two vulnerabilities that could potentially affect your product's stability and security. CVE-2025-23165 (CVSS: 3.7) is a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability in the ReadFileUtf8 internal binding. Repeated use of the affected API could cause unbounded memory growth leading to a DoS condition. CVE-2025-23167 (CVSS: 6.5) is a flaw in Node.js's HTTP parser that could be exploited for HTTP Request Smuggling or bypass proxy-based access controls, potentially leading to unauthorized access or incorrect server termination. Users of IBM Documentation Offline are encouraged to apply the necessary update to mitigate these risks.
Vulnerability Details
CVEID: CVE-2025-23165
DESCRIPTION: In Node.js, the `ReadFileUtf8` internal binding leaks memory due to a corrupted pointer in `uv_fs_s.file`: a UTF-16 path buffer is allocated but subsequently overwritten when the file descriptor is set. This results in an unrecoverable memory leak on every call. Repeated use can cause unbounded memory growth, leading to a denial of service.
Impact:
* This vulnerability affects APIs relying on `ReadFileUtf8` on Node.js release lines: v20 and v22.
CWE: CWE-401: Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
CVSS Source: support@hackerone.com
CVSS Base score: 3.7
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L)
CVEID: CVE-2025-23166
DESCRIPTION: The C++ method SignTraits::DeriveBits() may incorrectly call ThrowException() based on user-supplied inputs when executing in a background thread, crashing the Node.js process. Such cryptographic operations are commonly applied to untrusted inputs. Thus, this mechanism potentially allows an adversary to remotely crash a Node.js runtime.
CWE: CWE-248: Uncaught Exception
CVSS Source: support@hackerone.com
CVSS Base score: 7.5
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
CVEID: CVE-2025-23167
DESCRIPTION: A flaw in Node.js 20's HTTP parser allows improper termination of HTTP/1 headers using `\r\n\rX` instead of the required `\r\n\r\n`.
This inconsistency enables request smuggling, allowing attackers to bypass proxy-based access controls and submit unauthorized requests.
The issue was resolved by upgrading `llhttp` to version 9, which enforces correct header termination.
Impact:
* This vulnerability affects only Node.js 20.x users prior to the `llhttp` v9 upgrade.
CWE: CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling')
CVSS Source: support@hackerone.com
CVSS Base score: 6.5
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N)
Affected Products and Versions
| Affected Product(s) | Version(s) |
| IBM Documentation Offline | 1.1.8 |
Remediation/Fixes
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability/vulnerabilities now by applying the following fix:
| Product(s) | Version(s) number and/or range | Remediation/Fix/Instructions |
| IBM Documetation Offline (electron version) | 1.0.0 - 1.1.8 | Download and install latest release (1.2.0) |
| IBM Documentation Offline (intranet version) | 1.0.0 - 1.1.8 | Update node.js you use to run the app to 20.19.2 or 22.15.2 |
Workarounds and Mitigations
None
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References
Review this information as needed, no action required.
Acknowledgement
Change History
09 Dec 2025: Initial Publication
*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.
Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ""AS IS"" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. "Affected Products and Versions" referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
09 December 2025
Initial Publish date:
09 December 2025
UID
ibm17254161