CVE-2016-10626 in mystem3
Summary
by MITRE
mystem3 is a NodeJS wrapper for the Yandex MyStem 3. mystem3 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-2016-10626 affects mystem3, a Node.js wrapper designed to interface with Yandex MyStem 3, a Russian language morphological analyzer. This particular flaw stems from the application's insecure download mechanism that relies on unencrypted HTTP protocols for retrieving binary resources. The fundamental security issue lies in the absence of cryptographic verification or secure transport mechanisms during the binary acquisition process, creating an exploitable vector for man-in-the-middle attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic insecure dependency management pattern where the wrapper application fails to implement proper security controls for external resource retrieval. When mystem3 attempts to download required binary components, it establishes HTTP connections that lack authentication, integrity verification, or encryption mechanisms. This design flaw directly violates security best practices outlined in industry standards such as CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols, and CWE-494, which covers the download of code without integrity checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to potentially enable full remote code execution capabilities. An attacker positioned within the network traffic path or capable of performing DNS spoofing or ARP poisoning attacks can intercept the HTTP requests and substitute the legitimate binary with a maliciously crafted alternative. This substitution attack, classified under ATT&CK technique T1105, allows for arbitrary code execution on the target system with the privileges of the user running the mystem3 application. The implications are particularly severe because the downloaded binary executes with the same permissions as the Node.js process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure download mechanisms that replace HTTP with HTTPS protocols throughout the entire resource acquisition process. The solution must incorporate cryptographic verification mechanisms such as checksum validation or digital signatures to ensure binary integrity. Security measures should also include certificate pinning to prevent certificate substitution attacks and network-level protections such as firewall rules that restrict outbound HTTP connections. Organizations should implement dependency management policies that require secure transport protocols and regularly audit their applications for insecure network communications. The remediation approach aligns with NIST SP 800-53 security controls that emphasize secure configuration and network protection measures to prevent unauthorized access and data compromise.