CVE-2016-10559 in selenium-download
Summary
by MITRE
selenium-download downloads the latest versions of the selenium standalone server and the chromedriver. selenium-download before 2.0.7 downloads binary resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested binary with an attacker controlled binary if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10559 affects the selenium-download package, a tool commonly used in automated testing environments to manage selenium standalone servers and chromedriver binaries. This tool serves as a critical component in continuous integration pipelines and automated testing frameworks where developers need to ensure consistent and reliable testing environments across different systems. The vulnerability stems from the tool's reliance on unencrypted HTTP connections when downloading binary resources, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors within the network infrastructure.
The technical flaw resides in the package's implementation of network communication protocols where it defaults to using HTTP instead of HTTPS for all binary downloads. This design decision exposes the system to man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker positioned between the downloading system and the remote server can intercept and modify the downloaded binary files. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols. When an attacker successfully substitutes the legitimate binary with a malicious one, the consequences can be severe as the modified binary could contain backdoors, trojans, or other malicious code that would execute with the privileges of the user running the selenium-download tool.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates a potential pathway for remote code execution within the testing infrastructure. Since selenium-download is frequently used in automated testing environments and continuous integration systems, an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to these critical systems. The attack vector requires the attacker to either be on the same network segment or positioned to intercept network traffic, which is particularly concerning in shared or public network environments where such positioning is relatively easy to achieve. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in network infrastructure to gain unauthorized access to systems. The implications are especially severe for organizations that rely on automated testing frameworks, as the compromise of these systems could lead to the injection of malicious code into production applications or the complete compromise of the testing environment.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to selenium-download version 2.0.7 or later, which implements HTTPS connections for all binary downloads to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized changes to downloaded binaries, establishing secure network segmentation, and using network access control measures can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their automated testing environments to ensure that no systems are still using vulnerable versions of the package. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure software supply chain practices and the necessity of implementing encrypted communication protocols for all binary downloads, particularly in environments where automated testing and deployment processes are common.