CVE-2025-55132 is a vulnerability in the Node.js runtime's permission model affecting versions 20.19.6, 22.21.1, 24.12.0, and 25.2.1. The issue arises because the futimes() system call, which updates a file's access and modification timestamps, does not enforce the same write-permission checks as utimes(). Specifically, even if a process only has read permissions on a file or directory, it can invoke futimes() to alter the timestamps of that file. This behavior violates the expected permission model, allowing modification of file metadata in read-only directories. While the file content remains unchanged, this can be exploited to tamper with timestamps used in logging, auditing, or forensic investigations, thereby obscuring malicious or unauthorized activity. The vulnerability requires local access with limited privileges and some user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited to a low severity level, primarily affecting the integrity of file metadata. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches or official fixes have been linked yet. Organizations relying on Node.js for critical applications should monitor for updates and consider compensating controls to detect anomalous timestamp changes.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the integrity of file metadata, which can undermine the reliability of logs and forensic evidence. This could complicate incident response and auditing processes, especially in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure where accurate logging is essential for compliance with GDPR and other regulations. Attackers with limited local access could use this flaw to cover tracks after unauthorized access or data exfiltration attempts. However, since the vulnerability does not allow modification of file contents or denial of service, the direct impact on operational systems is limited. Organizations with Node.js-based applications or infrastructure that rely on file timestamp integrity for security monitoring or compliance should be particularly cautious. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future abuse.

1. Monitor Node.js vendor announcements and apply official patches promptly once available. 2. Implement file integrity monitoring solutions that track unexpected changes to file metadata, including timestamps, to detect suspicious activity. 3. Restrict local access to systems running affected Node.js versions to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of exploitation by low-privilege users. 4. Enhance logging and auditing mechanisms to include additional contextual information beyond timestamps, such as file hashes or access logs, to improve detection of tampering. 5. Consider using containerization or sandboxing to limit the scope of processes that can invoke futimes() on critical files. 6. Educate system administrators and security teams about this vulnerability to increase awareness and readiness for incident response. 7. Review and tighten file system permissions and access controls to reduce unnecessary read permissions on sensitive directories.