CVE-2016-10578 in Unicode Module
Summary
by MITRE
unicode loads unicode data downloaded from unicode.org into nodejs. Unicode before 9.0.0 downloads binary resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10578 resides within the unicode package for nodejs, which serves the critical function of loading unicode data from unicode.org. This package acts as a bridge between nodejs applications and the comprehensive unicode character database, enabling developers to work with international text processing and character encoding within their applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests in versions prior to 9.0.0 where the package's implementation of downloading unicode data exhibits a significant security flaw that exposes systems to man-in-the-middle attacks.
The technical flaw within this vulnerability stems from the unicode package's reliance on HTTP protocols for downloading binary resources from unicode.org instead of employing secure HTTPS connections. This design decision creates an exploitable attack surface where malicious actors can intercept network traffic between the nodejs application and the unicode.org servers. When the unicode package attempts to download unicode data over HTTP, it fails to validate the integrity of the downloaded resources, allowing attackers to substitute legitimate unicode data with malicious payloads during transit. The absence of transport layer security in the download mechanism represents a fundamental security oversight that violates established best practices for secure software development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it creates potential pathways for arbitrary code execution and data manipulation within nodejs applications that depend on the unicode package. An attacker who successfully executes a man-in-the-middle attack could inject malicious unicode data that, when processed by applications, could lead to unexpected behavior, information disclosure, or even complete system compromise depending on how the unicode data is utilized. This vulnerability affects the entire ecosystem of nodejs applications that rely on unicode data processing, potentially exposing countless applications to security risks in environments where network traffic interception is possible. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning given that unicode data is fundamental to text processing in modern applications, making it a critical dependency that could be exploited to undermine application security.
Organizations and developers should immediately upgrade to unicode package version 9.0.0 or later, which implements secure HTTPS connections for downloading unicode data resources. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential man-in-the-middle attack attempts targeting this vulnerability. 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 T1041, which covers data obfuscation through man-in-the-middle attacks. Security teams should also ensure that all dependencies are regularly audited and updated, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure communication channels in software supply chains. Organizations should implement automated dependency checking tools to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their software portfolios.