CVE-2016-10664 in msystem
Summary
by MITRE
msystem is a Node.js wrapper for MyStem morphology text analyzer by Yandex.ru msystem 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-2016-10664 affects msystem, a Node.js wrapper designed to interface with Yandex.ru's MyStem morphology text analyzer. This tool serves as a bridge between Node.js applications and the MyStem binary components, enabling natural language processing capabilities within JavaScript environments. The core issue lies in the insecure download mechanism employed by msystem, which relies on HTTP protocols for retrieving binary resources rather than secure HTTPS connections. This design flaw creates a significant security risk that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the software distribution process.
The technical flaw stems from the use of unencrypted HTTP transport for downloading binary dependencies, making the system susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks as classified under CWE-319. When msystem attempts to fetch required binary files from remote servers, attackers positioned on the network path between the client and the target server can intercept these requests and replace the legitimate binaries with malicious counterparts. This vulnerability represents a classic example of insecure communication channels that allow for credential theft, data manipulation, and potentially full system compromise as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1041 technique for data manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it opens the door to remote code execution capabilities when attackers successfully substitute legitimate binaries with malicious ones. The potential for remote code execution places this vulnerability in the high-severity category, as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the Node.js process. This risk is particularly concerning in environments where msystem is used for processing sensitive text data or in applications where the wrapper operates with elevated privileges, as it could enable attackers to gain persistent access to systems and potentially escalate their privileges further.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental flaw in the download mechanism by implementing secure HTTPS connections for all binary resource retrieval. Organizations should immediately update to versions of msystem that enforce encrypted transport protocols and implement certificate validation to prevent downgrading attacks. Network administrators should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious traffic patterns and enforce secure communication policies. The fix should also include integrity verification mechanisms such as cryptographic checksums or digital signatures to ensure that downloaded binaries have not been tampered with during transit. Additionally, system administrators should review and restrict network access to minimize the attack surface where MITM conditions could be established, implementing proper network segmentation and security controls to protect against unauthorized interception of traffic.