CVE-2016-10568 in geoip-lite-country
Summary
by MITRE
geoip-lite-country is a stripped down version of geoip-lite, supporting only country lookup. geoip-lite-country before 1.1.4 downloads data resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10568 affects the geoip-lite-country npm package, which serves as a lightweight implementation for performing country-based geolocation lookups. This package represents a simplified version of the more comprehensive geoip-lite library, focusing exclusively on country-level geolocation data without additional regional or city-specific information. The core issue lies in the package's implementation of data resource retrieval mechanisms, specifically its reliance on unencrypted HTTP connections for downloading geolocation databases. This design flaw creates a significant security weakness that exposes users to man-in-the-middle attacks, as the package fails to implement secure communication protocols for downloading critical data resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through interception of network traffic between the application using geoip-lite-country and the remote data servers. When the package attempts to download geolocation databases over HTTP, attackers positioned within the network path can intercept these requests and replace the legitimate data with malicious content. This MITM attack vector allows adversaries to potentially manipulate geolocation results, redirect traffic, or inject harmful data that could compromise the integrity of applications relying on accurate country information. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.1.4, indicating that this was a recognized security issue that required patching to address the insecure communication practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it fundamentally undermines the trustworthiness of geolocation services within applications using this package. Organizations relying on accurate country-based geolocation for access control, content delivery, or compliance purposes face significant risks when their systems are vulnerable to MITM attacks. The compromised data could lead to unauthorized access to region-restricted content, incorrect security policy enforcement, or manipulation of geolocation-based business logic. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications, mobile services, and any system architecture where country-based geolocation is used for decision-making processes, potentially enabling attackers to bypass geographic restrictions or manipulate user access based on false location data.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability center around upgrading to version 1.1.4 or later of the geoip-lite-country package, which implements secure HTTPS connections for data downloads. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network security controls such as certificate pinning, network monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns, and regular security assessments of third-party dependencies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves the use of network service scanning and manipulation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory audits of all npm dependencies to identify similar vulnerabilities in other packages that may be downloading resources over insecure connections, as this represents a broader class of security issues affecting software supply chain integrity and network communication security practices.