Critical React Native Metro dev server bug under attack
Essential information
- Published
- 04/02/2026 11:13
- Modified
- 05/02/2026 11:22
- Tags
- 2026-02-04 CVE-2025-11953 exploit linux malware delivery metro dev server os command injection react native windows
- Related entities
- 1 vulnerabilities (cve), 1 observables, 5 techniques (mitre)
Description
A critical vulnerability in React Native's Metro development server is being actively exploited to deliver malware to Windows and Linux machines. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-11953, allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands through OS command injection. Researchers discovered exploitation attempts as early as December, with attacks disabling Microsoft Defender protections and delivering a Rust-based payload with anti-analysis features. Despite its severity and ongoing exploitation, the vulnerability has not received widespread public acknowledgment. The bug affects the React Native Community command line tool, a popular npm package with millions of weekly downloads, highlighting the potential impact on developer tooling and the need for increased awareness and security measures.