CVE-2017-16074 in crossenv
Summary
by MITRE
crossenv was a malicious module published with the intent to hijack environment variables. It has been unpublished by npm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2020
The CVE-2017-16074 vulnerability represents a sophisticated supply chain attack targeting the npm package ecosystem through the crossenv module. This malicious package was designed to exploit the trust relationship between developers and npm packages, specifically targeting environment variable manipulation as a means of system compromise. The module's malicious intent was revealed when it was discovered to be actively hijacking environment variables, potentially compromising the security posture of systems where it was installed. The vulnerability demonstrates how attackers can leverage the npm ecosystem's trust model to deliver malicious code that operates at a fundamental level of system configuration.
The technical flaw within crossenv centered on its ability to modify environment variables during package installation and execution, creating a persistent backdoor mechanism. The module exploited the npm package installation process to inject malicious code that would intercept and potentially exfiltrate sensitive environment variables. This approach aligns with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability specifically targeted the PATH environment variable and other critical system variables that control program execution and access permissions. The malicious code was designed to operate silently, making detection challenging and allowing prolonged unauthorized access to affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple environment variable manipulation, as it created potential for broader system compromise through credential exposure and privilege escalation. Attackers could leverage the hijacked environment variables to gain access to sensitive information, potentially including API keys, database credentials, and other authentication tokens stored in environment variables. The vulnerability affected developers and systems that relied on npm for package management, creating widespread potential for compromise across development environments and production systems. Organizations using npm-based workflows were particularly vulnerable, as the malicious package could persist across system reboots and installations. This attack vector represents a significant threat to software supply chain security and demonstrates how seemingly benign packages can be weaponized to create persistent threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16074 required immediate removal of the malicious package from affected systems and implementation of enhanced package verification processes. Organizations should have conducted thorough audits of their npm package dependencies to identify any installations of crossenv or similar malicious packages. The remediation process involved purging the malicious package from local npm caches and reinstalling trusted versions from official repositories. Security teams should have implemented package integrity checks using npm audit or similar tools to detect malicious packages in their dependency trees. The incident highlighted the importance of using npm's security features including package signing and verification mechanisms, as well as implementing automated security scanning in development workflows. Organizations should have established policies for regularly updating and validating npm packages, with particular attention to packages that modify system-level configurations. This vulnerability reinforced the need for comprehensive security awareness training for developers and the implementation of security controls at multiple points in the software development lifecycle, aligning with industry best practices for supply chain security and the principles outlined in the CWE catalog under category CWE-494.