CVE-2017-16041 in ikst
Summary
by MITRE
ikst versions before 1.1.2 download resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16041 affects ikst versions prior to 1.1.2 and represents a significant security weakness in the software's resource acquisition mechanism. This flaw stems from the application's reliance on unencrypted HTTP protocols for downloading resources, creating an exploitable attack surface that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of downloaded content. The issue manifests when the software attempts to retrieve external dependencies, configuration files, or update packages through insecure HTTP connections rather than secure HTTPS channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the software's network communication stack where resource retrieval functions fail to enforce encrypted transport mechanisms. This design flaw allows attackers positioned within the network path between the vulnerable application and its resource servers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks with minimal technical sophistication. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-319, which categorizes the weakness as "Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information," specifically highlighting the exposure of sensitive data during network transmission. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept, modify, or inject malicious content into the downloaded resources, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation within the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-16041 extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of the software ecosystem. When applications download resources over unencrypted channels, they become vulnerable to various attack vectors including credential theft, malware injection, and supply chain compromises. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers "Application Layer Protocol: DNS," as attackers can manipulate DNS responses to redirect traffic to malicious servers. Additionally, this weakness enables techniques described in T1566, "Phishing," where attackers can deliver malicious payloads through compromised download channels. Organizations using vulnerable versions of ikst face heightened risk of security breaches, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise entire systems through the execution of malicious code delivered via the compromised download mechanism.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure communication protocols throughout the application's resource acquisition process. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to ikst version 1.1.2 or later, which implements mandatory HTTPS connections for all resource downloads. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls such as DNS security extensions and certificate pinning mechanisms to provide additional defense in depth. The solution directly addresses the ATT&CK technique T1557, "Adversary-in-the-Middle," by ensuring encrypted communication channels that prevent attackers from intercepting or modifying transmitted data. Security administrators should also establish monitoring procedures to detect and alert on any attempts to access insecure HTTP endpoints, while implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.