CVE-2016-10655: Clang extra Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-59m2-j944-839w
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-311
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-10655 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) affecting Clang extra libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves clang-extra downloads resources over http. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2016-10655 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-10655
GHSA Identifier GHSA-59m2-j944-839w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
Affected Product Clang extra
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-10655

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Clang extra dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

clang-extra fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install clang-extra@Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls clang-extra

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2016-10655, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls clang-extra

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Clang extra in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls clang-extra command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data, where the product does not encrypt sensitive or critical information before storage or transmission. In Clang extra, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Affected versions of `clang-extra` insecurely download an executable over an unencrypted HTTP connection. In scenarios where an attacker has a privileged network position, it is possible to intercept the response and replace the executable with a malicious one, resulting in code execution on the system running `clang-extra`. ## Recommendation No patch is currently available for this vulnerability. The package author stated that no patch is possible until llvm provides HTTPS support, and a patch would be possible if that ever happened in the future. The best mitigation option is to reduce the risk of exploitation as much as possible. This can be done by ensuring that this package is not installed while connected to a public network. If the package is installed on a private network, the only people who can exploit this vulnerability are those who have compromised your network or those who have privileged access to your ISP, such as Nation State Actors or Rogue ISP Employees.

CVE-2016-10655 Affected Clang extra Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
clang-extra
npm/clang-extra
npm
≤ 0.1.1

References

NVD — CVE-2016-10655 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10655
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-59m2-j944-839w
www.npmjs.com/advisories/265 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/265

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-10655?
CVE-2016-10655 is a security vulnerability in Clang extra involving clang-extra downloads Resources over HTTP under CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data.
Which Clang extra versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: clang-extra.
What version fixes CVE-2016-10655?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is clang-extra affected?
Yes, clang-extra is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-10655?
CVE-2016-10655 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-10655?
CVE-2016-10655 is classified under CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data (The product does not encrypt sensitive or critical information before storage or transmission.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2016-10655?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls clang-extra'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-59m2-j944-839w",
  "modified" : "2023-09-07T20:12:38Z",
  "published" : "2019-02-18T23:45:13Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-10655" ],
  "summary" : "clang-extra downloads Resources over HTTP",
  "details" : "Affected versions of `clang-extra` insecurely download an executable over an unencrypted HTTP connection. \n\nIn scenarios where an attacker has a privileged network position, it is possible to intercept the response and replace the executable with a malicious one, resulting in code execution on the system running `clang-extra`.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nNo patch is currently available for this vulnerability. The package author stated that no patch is possible until llvm provides HTTPS support, and a patch would be possible if that ever happened in the future.\n\nThe best mitigation option is to reduce the risk of exploitation as much as possible. This can be done by ensuring that this package is not installed while connected to a public network. If the package is installed on a private network, the only people who can exploit this vulnerability are those who have compromised your network or those who have privileged access to your ISP, such as Nation State Actors or Rogue ISP Employees.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "clang-extra"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "0.1.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10655"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-59m2-j944-839w"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/265"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-311" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:00:22Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}