CVE-2017-16014 in Http-proxy
Summary
by MITRE
Http-proxy is a proxying library. Because of the way errors are handled in versions before 0.7.0, an attacker that forces an error can crash the server, causing a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16014 affects the http-proxy library, a widely used Node.js proxying library that facilitates HTTP request forwarding between clients and servers. This issue stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the library's codebase, specifically in versions prior to 0.7.0. The flaw creates a condition where an attacker can deliberately trigger error states that lead to complete server termination, resulting in a denial of service condition that impacts the availability of the affected system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the http-proxy library processes and manages error conditions during HTTP request handling. When certain error scenarios occur, the library fails to properly terminate or recover from these conditions, allowing malicious actors to craft specific requests or conditions that force the proxy server into a crash state. This represents a classic denial of service vulnerability where the attacker leverages the application's error handling weaknesses to disrupt normal service operations. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks that manipulate the proxy's HTTP request processing pipeline.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to systems relying on http-proxy for their network infrastructure. Organizations using vulnerable versions of the library face potential service disruption that could affect web applications, API gateways, or any system that depends on HTTP proxy functionality. The attack surface extends to any server that utilizes this library for proxy operations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where proxy servers often serve as critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability can be exploited with relatively simple attack vectors, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute successful denial of service attacks against affected systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and specifically relates to improper error handling that leads to resource exhaustion or system termination. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique for "Network Denial of Service" and potentially T1566.001 for "Phishing with Social Engineering" if attackers use the vulnerability as part of broader attack campaigns. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 0.7.0 or later of the http-proxy library to address this vulnerability, as the fix implements proper error handling mechanisms that prevent the crash conditions. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level protections such as rate limiting and input validation, though the primary solution remains the library version upgrade. System administrators should also monitor for signs of exploitation attempts and implement appropriate logging to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability.