CVE-2016-10648 in marionette-socket-host
Summary
by MITRE
marionette-socket-host is a marionette-js-runner host for sending actions over a socket. marionette-socket-host 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-2016-10648 affects marionette-socket-host, a component within the marionette-js-runner framework designed to facilitate action execution over socket connections. This tool serves as a host mechanism for sending commands and operations through network interfaces, making it a critical element in automated testing and remote execution scenarios. The primary security concern stems from the application's reliance on unencrypted HTTP protocols for downloading binary resources, creating a fundamental weakness in the security architecture that exposes systems to various attack vectors.
The technical flaw resides in the insecure transmission of binary resources through HTTP connections rather than secure HTTPS protocols. This design decision creates an exploitable condition where network traffic can be intercepted, modified, or replaced by malicious actors positioned within the communication path. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to download required binary components, as the HTTP protocol does not provide encryption or integrity verification mechanisms. This weakness directly maps to CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols, and represents a classic man-in-the-middle attack scenario.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to potentially enable full remote code execution capabilities. An attacker capable of positioning themselves between the victim system and the remote server can replace legitimate binary resources with malicious counterparts, effectively compromising the integrity of the entire system. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1068, which addresses exploit for privilege escalation. The potential for remote code execution through binary replacement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the marionette-socket-host component is used for automated testing, deployment, or system administration tasks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing secure communication protocols throughout the application lifecycle. The most effective immediate solution involves transitioning from HTTP to HTTPS for all binary resource downloads, ensuring encryption and integrity verification through certificate validation. Network administrators should implement strict firewall rules and monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate man-in-the-middle activity. Additionally, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms can provide an extra layer of protection against certificate-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the attack surface and regular security audits to identify similar insecure practices in other components of their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure communication practices in automated systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such exposure points from being introduced into production environments.