CVE-2016-10624 in selenium-chromedriver
Summary
by MITRE
selenium-chromedriver is a simple utility for downloading the Selenium Webdriver for Google Chrome selenium-chromedriver 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-2016-10624 affects selenium-chromedriver, a utility designed to facilitate the downloading of Selenium WebDriver components for Google Chrome browser automation. This tool serves as a critical component in automated testing environments and web application security assessments, where developers and security professionals rely on consistent and secure access to WebDriver binaries. The vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on unencrypted HTTP protocols for binary resource retrieval, creating a fundamental security weakness that exposes users to significant operational risks.
The technical flaw resides in the protocol selection mechanism of selenium-chromedriver which defaults to using HTTP instead of HTTPS for downloading binary resources. This design decision creates a man-in-the-middle attack surface where network adversaries can intercept and manipulate the download process. When a user initiates a binary download, the HTTP connection provides no encryption or authentication guarantees, allowing attackers positioned within the network traffic flow to replace legitimate binaries with malicious counterparts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it potentially enables remote code execution capabilities for attackers who successfully exploit the MITM position. An attacker who can manipulate the binary download process can substitute a legitimate Chrome WebDriver with a compromised version that contains malicious code, leading to arbitrary code execution on the target system. This threat vector is particularly concerning in security testing environments where selenium-chromedriver is frequently used, as it could allow adversaries to gain unauthorized access to testing infrastructure or compromise the integrity of security assessments. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems that rely on this utility for automated browser automation tasks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10624 require immediate protocol upgrades to HTTPS-based retrieval mechanisms for all binary downloads. Organizations should implement network security measures such as DNS filtering, SSL inspection policies, and traffic monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle activities. The implementation of certificate pinning techniques can further strengthen the security posture by ensuring that only trusted certificates are accepted for binary downloads. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to untrusted network segments. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability represents a technique for gaining access through exploitation of insecure network protocols, making it a critical target for defensive security measures. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure software development practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten categories related to insecure components and insufficient logging and monitoring, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls throughout the software supply chain.