# Course 39 - NodeJS Security Pentesting and Exploitation | Episode 2: Mitigating RCE, OS Injection, and Path Traversal Vulnerabilities

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cybercode-academy-7578615/course-39-nodejs-security-pentesting-and-exploitation-episode-2-mitigating-rce-os-injection-and-path-traversal-vulnerabilities
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cybercode-academy-7578615/course-39-nodejs-security-pentesting-and-exploitation-episode-2-mitigating-rce-os-injection-and-path-traversal-vulnerabilities.md
Podcast: [CyberCode Academy](https://stenobird.com/podcast/cybercode-academy-7578615)
Published: 2026-07-08T06:00:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/course-39-nodejs-security-pentesting-and-exploitation-episode-2-mitigating-rce-os-injection-and-path-traversal-vulnerabilities--72712048
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72712048/how_user_input_hijacks_node_servers.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1287

## Resource

In this lesson, you’ll learn about: critical Node.js vulnerabilities caused by unsafe user input handling, including RCE, command injection, XSS, and directory traversal1. Core Security Principle🔹 Key idea: Never trust user input👉 Any data from users must be treated as hostile by default Without validation, it can become a direct execution path into the system.2. Remote Code Execution (RCE) via eval()🔹 Dangerous functions: eval() setTimeout() setInterval() new Function() 🔹 Why they are riskyThese functions execute raw JavaScript strings🔹 Attack outcomes: Infinite loops → server crash (DoS) Forced termination (process.exit()) Full server takeover (reverse shell execution) 👉 Key Insight If user input reaches an execution function → the server is effectively “remote-controlled”3. Remote OS Command Injection🔹 Vulnerable function: child_process.exec 🔹 How the attack works: Input is passed into shell commands Attacker injects separators like ; Extra commands execute on the OS 🔹 Example impact: Read sensitive files (e.g., system password data) Execute arbitrary system commands 🔹 Safer alternatives: execFile spawn 👉 Why they are safer: They treat input as arguments, not executable shell strings4. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)🔹 Cause: Unsanitized user input reflected into browser output🔹 Impact: Script execution in victim’s browser Session hijacking potential UI manipulation 👉 Key Insight Server-side mistake becomes client-side compromise5. Directory Traversal (Path Traversal)🔹 Technique: Using patterns like: ../ repeated directory jumps 🔹 Impact: Access files outside intended directory Read sensitive system files Break application file boundaries 6. Big PictureThis episode shows how Node.js apps fail when: Input is executed instead of validated System commands are built from raw…

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