CVE-2017-16074: Hijacked Environment Variables in crossenv
Summary
CVE-2017-16074: crossenv is malware. Affects crossenv versions < 1.0.1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The crossenv package is a popular npm package used for managing environment variables in cross-platform development environments. It provides a convenient way to set and access environment variables across different operating systems. However, all versions of the package have been found to contain malware that steals environment variables and sends them to attacker-controlled locations.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the crossenv package allows an attacker to hijack environment variables and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The malware within the package is designed to collect environment variables and send them to the attacker's servers. This can lead to the exposure of sensitive credentials, such as registry credentials, tokens, and other sensitive information stored in environment variables. The package has been unpublished from the npm registry to prevent further distribution.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
There is no specific workaround for this vulnerability. The best course of action is to follow the recommended steps to fix the vulnerability.
Conclusion
The crossenv package has been found to contain malware that steals environment variables. If you have this package installed in your environment, it is crucial to take immediate action to remove it and address any potential exposure of sensitive credentials. Following the recommended steps and staying vigilant for future vulnerabilities will help ensure the security of your development environment.
See every vulnerability recorded for crossenv →
FAQ
The crossenv package contains malware that is designed to collect environment variables and send them to attacker-controlled locations. It does this by intercepting the process of setting and accessing environment variables and capturing the values before they are used by the legitimate application.
The consequences of this vulnerability include the exposure of sensitive credentials and information stored in environment variables. This can lead to unauthorized access to systems and services, as well as potential data breaches.
You can use the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide the package-lock.json file of your project and the Vulert Playground will analyze it for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Once you have followed the recommended steps to fix the vulnerability, it is safe to continue using the crossenv package. However, it is important to regularly update your packages and stay vigilant for any future vulnerabilities.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, it is important to regularly update your packages to the latest versions, as developers often release security patches to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, you should only install packages from trusted sources and regularly monitor for any security advisories or alerts related to the packages you use.
