CVE-2026-76230 renovatebot CVE debrief

Who should care

Users of Renovate versions from 35.63.0 before 40.33.0, administrators of systems running Renovate, and security teams responsible for monitoring and mitigating vulnerabilities should be aware of this issue. They should review and update Renovate to version 40.33.0 or later, restrict repository write access to trusted users, and monitor npm install commands for suspicious activity. Additional security controls for Renovate configuration files should also be implemented. This vulnerability may impact operational security and requires prompt attention to prevent potential exploitation. Affected operators and platforms should prioritize patching and compensating controls to minimize exposure. Vulnerability management and security teams should track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and verify evidence of remediation before closing the item. This issue may require coordination with vendors and asset owners to ensure comprehensive mitigation. Security teams should also review relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review. Asset inventory and rollback/change windows may be necessary for remediation efforts. Source tracking and compensating controls can help mitigate the risk of exploitation. The HIGH CVSS score and potential for arbitrary command execution emphasize the need for prompt action to protect affected systems and data. Security teams should work closely with affected teams to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to prevent exploitation and minimize potential impact. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure configuration management and change control processes for Renovate and similar tools. By prioritizing patching and implementing additional security controls, organizations can reduce the risk of exploitation and protect their systems and data. This issue requires a coordinated effort from security teams, system administrators, and vendors to ensure comprehensive mitigation and minimize potential impact. The vulnerability's severity and potential impact emphasize the need for prompt attention and action to prevent exploitation and protect affected systems and data. This issue may require updates,

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in Renovate versions from 35.63.0 before 40.33.0 in the npm manager. User-provided packageName values are appended to npm install commands without proper sanitization, allowing attackers with repository write access to craft malicious Renovate configuration files and execute arbitrary commands. This issue has a HIGH CVSS score of 8.4, indicating a high severity vulnerability.

Defensive priority

High priority due to the HIGH CVSS score of 8.4 and potential for arbitrary command execution.

Recommended defensive actions

• Review and update Renovate to version 40.33.0 or later
• Restrict repository write access to trusted users
• Monitor npm install commands for suspicious activity
• Implement additional security controls for Renovate configuration files
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up.
• Review the supplied official advisory or CVE record to validate affected scope, severity, and vendor guidance.
• Plan vendor-supported updates or mitigations through normal change control where exposure is confirmed.

Evidence notes

The vulnerability exists in Renovate versions from 35.63.0 before 40.33.0 in the npm manager. User-provided packageName values are appended to npm install commands without proper sanitization, allowing attackers with repository write access to craft malicious Renovate configuration files and execute arbitrary commands. Evidence is limited to public sources and may not be comprehensive. Defenders should verify affected scope and vendor guidance.

Official resources