Semver is a crucial npm package enabling robust semantic version parsing, widely adopted within the Node.js ecosystem. Examining versions 4.1.0 and its predecessor, 4.0.3, unveils subtle yet potentially impactful differences for developers relying on this library. While both versions share a common foundation – the same description, development dependencies on "tap" and "uglify-js", a BSD license, and a source code repository hosted on GitHub – the distinction lies primarily in their release dates and, consequently, any bug fixes, performance enhancements, or minor feature additions incorporated between these builds. Version 4.0.3 was released on October 1st, 2014 while the subsequent stable version, 4.1.0 becomes available on October 16th, 2014.
Developers assessing which version to integrate should consider the timeframe between these releases. While the core functionality remains consistent, opting for the newer 4.1.0 provides access to any incremental improvements or resolved issues addressed in the interim. Examining the changelogs accompanying these versions on the npm registry or GitHub repository would offer greater insights into the specific modifications introduced. For instance, bug fixes for unusual version strings or edge cases are prime candidates for inclusion in a minor version bump. Ultimately, while the functional disparity might be small, selecting the latest stable release (4.1.0) ensures the adoption of the most refined and thoroughly tested iteration of the semver library. Always check the release notes.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 4.1.0 of the package
Regular Expression Denial of Service in semver
Versions 4.3.1 and earlier of semver
are affected by a regular expression denial of service vulnerability when extremely long version strings are parsed.
Update to version 4.3.2 or later
semver vulnerable to Regular Expression Denial of Service
Versions of the package semver before 7.5.2 on the 7.x branch, before 6.3.1 on the 6.x branch, and all other versions before 5.7.2 are vulnerable to Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) via the function new Range, when untrusted user data is provided as a range.