CVE-2016-10567 in product-monitor
Summary
by MITRE
product-monitor is a HTML/JavaScript template for monitoring a product by encouraging product developers to gather all the information about the status of a product, including live monitoring, statistics, endpoints, and test results into one place. product-monitor versions below 2.2.5 download JavaScript resources over HTTP, which leaves the module vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested JavaScript file with an attacker controlled JavaScript file if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10567 affects product-monitor, a web-based monitoring tool designed to aggregate product status information including live monitoring data, statistics, endpoints, and test results into a centralized interface. This tool serves as a template for developers to create comprehensive product monitoring solutions, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise development environments or monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from the application's insecure handling of JavaScript resource downloads, specifically its reliance on unencrypted HTTP protocols for retrieving critical components.
The technical flaw resides in the application's failure to implement secure transport mechanisms when downloading JavaScript dependencies. Versions prior to 2.2.5 consistently use HTTP instead of HTTPS for fetching external JavaScript resources, creating a man-in-the-middle attack vector that allows adversaries positioned on the network to intercept and modify the downloaded content. This represents a classic security weakness classified under CWE-319, which deals with the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that JavaScript files contain executable code that can directly influence the behavior of the monitoring application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates a potential remote code execution pathway for attackers. When an attacker successfully substitutes a legitimate JavaScript file with a malicious one, they can execute arbitrary code within the context of the monitoring application, potentially gaining access to sensitive product information, monitoring data, or even compromising the underlying system. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shell execution, and T1566.001, which encompasses spearphishing via web downloads. The attack surface is particularly concerning in development environments where these monitoring tools are often deployed with elevated privileges and access to sensitive product information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of HTTPS enforcement for all JavaScript resource downloads, which directly addresses the root cause of the issue. Organizations should implement strict certificate validation mechanisms and consider deploying content delivery networks with proper security configurations to prevent unauthorized modifications. Additionally, network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation. Regular security audits and dependency management practices should be enforced to ensure that all components are updated to their latest secure versions, with version 2.2.5 or later providing the necessary fixes to prevent HTTP-based resource loading and eliminate the man-in-the-middle attack vector.