CVE-2016-10680 in adamvr-geoip-lite
Summary
by MITRE
adamvr-geoip-lite is a light weight native JavaScript implementation of GeoIP API from MaxMind adamvr-geoip-lite downloads geoip resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. This impacts the integrity and availability of this geoip data that may alter the decisions made by an application using this data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10680 resides within the adamvr-geoip-lite JavaScript library, a lightweight implementation of MaxMind's GeoIP API designed for use in Node.js environments. This library serves as a critical component for applications requiring geolocation data, enabling developers to determine geographical information based on IP addresses. The core issue stems from the library's reliance on unencrypted HTTP connections when fetching geoip data resources from external servers, creating a fundamental security flaw that undermines the integrity and availability of the geolocation information.
The technical flaw manifests as a clear violation of secure communication principles, where the library performs HTTP requests without implementing any form of encryption or authentication mechanism. This design choice exposes the data transfer process to man-in-the-middle attacks, where malicious actors can intercept, modify, or completely replace the geoip data being transmitted between the application and the MaxMind servers. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-319, which categorizes insecure transmission of credentials or sensitive data over unencrypted channels, and represents a classic example of insufficient transport layer protection. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate the geolocation data to redirect traffic, bypass geographical restrictions, or inject false location information that could compromise security decisions made by the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as the compromised geoip data can fundamentally alter application behavior and security posture. Applications relying on this library for access control, content delivery optimization, fraud detection, or regional compliance measures may make incorrect decisions based on falsified geographical information. For instance, a web application using this library for geo-based access control could be tricked into granting unauthorized access to users from different regions, while an e-commerce platform might incorrectly route orders or apply wrong tax rates based on manipulated location data. The availability aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers can also cause denial of service by interfering with the data download process, potentially leading to application crashes or degraded performance when the geoip resources fail to load properly.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security concerns and the underlying architectural flaw in the library's implementation. The most effective approach involves upgrading to a newer version of the library that implements HTTPS connections for all data transfers, ensuring that all communications with MaxMind servers are encrypted using TLS protocols. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as DNS security extensions and certificate pinning to further safeguard against MITM attacks. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other dependencies that might be using unencrypted HTTP connections, as this represents a broader pattern of insecure communication practices. The remediation process should also include monitoring for any unauthorized modifications to the geoip data and implementing integrity checks to validate the authenticity of location information received by applications using this library. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Credential Access Through Network Sniffing, highlighting the need for comprehensive network security controls and proper implementation of secure communication protocols to prevent exploitation.