CVE-2016-10637 in haxe-dev
Summary
by MITRE
haxe-dev is a cross-platform toolkit. haxe-dev 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 • 02/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10637 affects haxe-dev, a cross-platform development toolkit that serves as a comprehensive software development environment. This toolkit is designed to facilitate development across multiple platforms and programming languages, making it a critical component in many development workflows. The vulnerability stems from the toolkit's reliance on unencrypted HTTP protocols for downloading binary resources during its operation. This design choice creates a fundamental security weakness that exposes users to significant risks when operating in network environments where man-in-the-middle attacks may occur.
The technical flaw resides in the implementation of secure communication practices within the haxe-dev toolkit. When the system attempts to download binary resources, it utilizes HTTP rather than HTTPS protocols, which means that all transmitted data travels in plaintext without encryption. This unencrypted communication channel creates an exploitable vector where an attacker positioned within the network traffic path can intercept, modify, or replace the requested binary files with malicious alternatives. The vulnerability specifically enables a remote code execution scenario because the toolkit does not implement any integrity verification mechanisms to validate the authenticity and integrity of downloaded binaries before installation or execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates a pathway for attackers to achieve full system compromise through the execution of malicious code. When an attacker successfully substitutes a legitimate binary with a malicious one, the compromised toolkit can execute arbitrary code on the victim's system with the privileges of the user running the toolkit. This represents a severe threat to development environments where developers may have elevated system privileges or access to sensitive code repositories. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in corporate networks or shared environments where network traffic is not properly secured, as it allows attackers to gain persistent access through the development tools that developers rely on daily.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity standards and frameworks, including CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols, and CWE-502, which covers the deserialization of untrusted data. The attack pattern follows the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where an attacker can execute malicious code through compromised development tools. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1566, the credential access technique that involves the use of malicious tools to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to versions that utilize HTTPS for all binary downloads, implementing network segmentation to prevent unauthorized access to development environments, and establishing proper certificate validation procedures to ensure that all downloaded resources maintain their integrity and authenticity. Additionally, security awareness training for developers should emphasize the importance of using secure communication channels and verifying the integrity of downloaded software components.