CVE-2019-5448: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data in yarn

yarn Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

31/07/2019

Disclosed on

CVE-2019-5448

CVE

Yes i

Fix available

High

Severity

8.1

CVSS Score

CVE-2019-5448: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data in yarn. Affects yarn versions < 1.17.3. Fixed in 1.17.3. How to fix ↓

Also tracked for

node-yarnpkg · Debian:11

The same CVE-2019-5448 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.

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Background

Yarn is an open-source package manager for JavaScript. It is widely used in the npm ecosystem for managing dependencies in Node.js projects. Yarn allows developers to efficiently install, update, and manage packages, improving the overall performance and reliability of the development process. However, versions of Yarn prior to 1.17.3 are vulnerable to Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data. This vulnerability arises due to the presence of HTTP URLs in the lockfile, which can result in unencrypted authentication data being sent over the network.

Vulnerability Detail

The Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data vulnerability in Yarn can have serious consequences. When HTTP URLs are included in the lockfile, sensitive authentication data, such as usernames and passwords, are transmitted without encryption. This can allow attackers with network access to intercept and view this information, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 8.1, indicating a high severity level.

How To Fix

Latest published version: 1.22.22 as of 22 Oct 2026

npm install yarn@1.22.22

Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.

If you need the minimum change

1.17.3

This is the first release that contains the fix.

npm install yarn@1.17.3

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Workaround

If upgrading Yarn is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround is to avoid using HTTP URLs in the lockfile. Instead, developers should use HTTPS URLs or other secure protocols to ensure the encryption of sensitive data during transmission.

Conclusion

The Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data vulnerability in Yarn can have serious security implications. It is crucial to upgrade to Yarn version 1.17.3 or later to ensure the encryption of sensitive data during transmission. Alternatively, developers can implement the provided workaround to mitigate the risk. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for yarn →