GHSA-52rh-5rpj-c3w6 is a high-severity (CVSS 8) vulnerability in matrix-org-irc. A fix is available for matrix-org-irc — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Improper handling of multiline messages in node-irc
Real-World Exposure
How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, and reverse-dependency count shows how many other packages break if it stays unpatched.
matrix-org-ircnpmDescription
node-irc is a socket wrapper for the IRC protocol that extends Node.js' EventEmitter. The vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate a Matrix user into executing IRC commands by having them reply to a maliciously crafted message. Incorrect handling of a CR character allowed for making part of the message be sent to the IRC server verbatim rather than as a message to the channel. The vulnerability has been patched in node-irc version 1.2.1.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | matrix-org-irc | all versions | 1.2.1npm install matrix-org-irc@1.2.1 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for matrix-org-irc, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update matrix-org-irc to 1.2.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-52rh-5rpj-c3w6 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like GHSA-52rh-5rpj-c3w6 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to GHSA-52rh-5rpj-c3w6. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-52rh-5rpj-c3w6 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds GHSA-52rh-5rpj-c3w6 across npm dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.