CVE-2026-49983

Deno: process.loadEnvFile() bypasses env permission checks and mutates process.env with only read access

Published Jun 23, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.2 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Deno is a JavaScript, TypeScript, and WebAssembly runtime. Prior to 2.8.1, environment access is gated by the env permission. You can deny it with --deny-env, or restrict it to a specific allowlist with --allow-env=FOO,BAR. The expectation is that a program running without env permission cannot change process.env. process.loadEnvFile() (the Node-compatible API for loading variables from a .env file) does not honor this. It only checks that the program has read permission for the dotenv file, then writes every key in that file into the process environment — even when env access is denied. In effect, --allow-read plus a writable or attacker-controlled .env file is enough to defeat --deny-env. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.8.1.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-4c8g-jvcx-v4hv Deno: process.loadEnvFile() bypasses env permission checks and mutates process.env with only read access
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Deno
Deno deno
Vendors & Products Deno
Deno deno
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Deno is a JavaScript, TypeScript, and WebAssembly runtime. Prior to 2.8.1, environment access is gated by the env permission. You can deny it with --deny-env, or restrict it to a specific allowlist with --allow-env=FOO,BAR. The expectation is that a program running without env permission cannot change process.env. process.loadEnvFile() (the Node-compatible API for loading variables from a .env file) does not honor this. It only checks that the program has read permission for the dotenv file, then writes every key in that file into the process environment — even when env access is denied. In effect, --allow-read plus a writable or attacker-controlled .env file is enough to defeat --deny-env. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.8.1.
Title Deno: process.loadEnvFile() bypasses env permission checks and mutates process.env with only read access
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jun 23, 2026, 5:54 PM
Reserved
Jun 2, 2026, 6:30 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jun 23, 2026, 6:18 PM
Modified
Oct 25, 2026, 11:10 PM