CVE-2016-10614 in httpsync
Summary
by MITRE
httpsync is a port of libcurl to node.js. httpsync 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10614 affects httpsync, a node.js implementation that ports libcurl functionality for HTTP binary resource downloads. This tool operates by establishing HTTP connections to remote servers to fetch binary content, creating a fundamental security weakness that exposes users to man-in-the-middle attacks. The core issue lies in the absence of proper certificate validation and cryptographic integrity checks during the download process, leaving the communication channel susceptible to interception and manipulation by malicious actors positioned within the network path.
The technical flaw stems from httpsync's reliance on HTTP protocols without implementing robust security measures such as certificate pinning, secure connection validation, or cryptographic verification of downloaded content. When a user initiates a download through httpsync, the tool establishes an unencrypted HTTP connection that can be easily intercepted by attackers. This vulnerability maps to CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols, and represents a critical weakness in the tool's security architecture. The absence of proper transport layer security validation creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to perform content substitution attacks, where malicious binaries can replace legitimate ones during transit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for users who rely on httpsync for downloading critical software components or system binaries. An attacker positioned between the user and the remote server can intercept the HTTP traffic and substitute the requested binary with a malicious payload, potentially leading to remote code execution on the victim's system. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of malicious code injection through network-based attacks. The vulnerability essentially allows for arbitrary code execution through a simple man-in-the-middle attack, making it particularly dangerous for environments where httpsync is used to download software updates, libraries, or system components that require integrity and authenticity guarantees.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10614 should focus on implementing secure communication protocols and cryptographic verification mechanisms. Organizations should immediately transition from using httpsync to more secure alternatives that implement HTTPS with proper certificate validation, or implement additional security layers such as cryptographic checksum verification of downloaded content. The solution involves upgrading to tools that support secure HTTP protocols, implementing certificate pinning, and establishing integrity checks using cryptographic hashes such as SHA-256 or MD5 to verify downloaded files. Additionally, network-level security measures such as DNS security extensions and secure network segmentation should be implemented to prevent attackers from positioning themselves within the communication path. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing proper transport layer security mechanisms in all network communication libraries and tools.