Node 25 breaking change - TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'prototype')

[LoganTann-pro]

Summary

Hello,

My Node.js installation automatically upgraded itself from v22 to v25, potentially as a result of the company's control over software updates on my machine.

The cli no longer works on node v25

Steps To Reproduce

On windows :

• Generate a project using sf project generate
• Install node v25. Install the Salesforce CLI via NPM. Reboot the computer.
• On the project root folder, run sf org list -v --dev-debug

Expected result

The CLI is expected to print my org listing.

Actual result

The CLI throws the error TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'prototype')

Additional information

• Output of sf org list -v --dev-debug / Stack trace attached as a gist : https://gist.github.com/LoganTann-pro/b6249407be8e3d0c1173bf25c49df6ee
• This is due to Node.js 25 removing support for SlowBuffer.

• // %appdata%\npm\node_modules\@salesforce\cli\node_modules\buffer-equal-constant-time\index.js`
  var origBufEqual = Buffer.prototype.equal;
  var origSlowBufEqual = SlowBuffer.prototype.equal;
  bufferEq.restore = function() {
    Buffer.prototype.equal = origBufEqual;
    SlowBuffer.prototype.equal = origSlowBufEqual;
  };

System Information

{
  "architecture": "win32-x64",
  "cliVersion": "@salesforce/cli/2.113.6",
  "nodeVersion": "node-v25.2.1",
  "osVersion": "Windows_NT 10.0.26100",
  "rootPath": "C:\\Users\\LT\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@salesforce\\cli",
  "shell": "powershell",
  "pluginVersions": [
    "@oclif/plugin-autocomplete 3.2.39 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-commands 4.1.37 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-help 6.2.35 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-not-found 3.2.72 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-plugins 5.4.53 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-search 1.2.36 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-update 4.7.14 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-version 2.2.36 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-warn-if-update-available 3.1.52 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-which 3.2.42 (core)",
    "@salesforce/cli 2.113.6 (core)",
    "agent 1.24.27 (core)",
    "apex 3.8.7 (core)",
    "api 1.3.3 (core)",
    "auth 3.9.19 (core)",
    "data 4.0.62 (core)",
    "deploy-retrieve 3.23.16 (core)",
    "info 3.4.96 (core)",
    "limits 3.3.71 (core)",
    "marketplace 1.3.8 (core)",
    "org 5.9.45 (core)",
    "packaging 2.23.3 (core)",
    "schema 3.3.88 (core)",
    "settings 2.4.51 (core)",
    "sobject 1.4.79 (core)",
    "telemetry 3.6.66 (core)",
    "templates 56.3.71 (core)",
    "trust 3.7.113 (core)",
    "user 3.6.41 (core)",
    "etcopydata 2.1.1 (user) published 1141 days ago (Mon Oct 10 2022)",
    "sfdmu 4.38.0 (user) published 331 days ago (Sun Dec 29 2024)",
    "sfdx-git-delta 6.23.0 (user) published 36 days ago (Mon Oct 20 2025)",
    "sfdx-hardis 6.12.4 (user) published 7 days ago (Tue Nov 18 2025) (latest is 6.12.7)"
  ]
}

Related issue : #3445

[github-actions]

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[iowillhoit]

We have also seen some issues with 25, but we are running tests on Node 25 and I don't remember seeing this one. We can look at this next week. In the meantime, are you able to install using the CLI os-specific installers or the tarballs? Both of those come with their own version of Node (currently 24) https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_setup.meta/sfdx_setup/sfdx_setup_install_cli.htm

[LoganTann-pro]

Hello thanks for the reply,

I cannot install the CLI build due to lack of administration privileges.

As a workaround, I hot-patched nmp's sf executable to force it to lauch a downgraded nodejs version at a specific path. Therefore I don't think I need to use the tarball for now, but this option might be a more suitable workaround.

[LoganTann-pro]

Related issue : auth0/node-jwa#51

[cristiand391]

@LoganTann-pro I'll close this as a dup of:
#3434 (comment)

I was working on this a week ago, there's already patched deps but I found another new bug after that, let's keep the discussions in the linked issue please.

[jfeingold35]

@LoganTann-pro , my local testing indicates that this issue should be solved on the latest version of the CLI. Can you update the CLI to latest, update Node to v25, and let us know if you still see the issue?

[LoganTann-pro]

Hello @jfeingold35 , thanks a lot for the reply. I confirm the latest update now works !

> sf --version
@salesforce/cli/2.116.6 win32-x64 node-v25.2.1

> sf org list
(works)

[jfeingold35]

Beautiful. Please let us know if you identify any other issues related to Node v25.