CVE-2016-10615: Curses Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8p52-7cxv-6c95
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CWE-311
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-10615 is a HIGH remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) affecting Curses libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves downloads resources over http in curses. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2016-10615 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-10615
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8p52-7cxv-6c95
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
Affected Product Curses
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2016-10615

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

curses fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install curses@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 curses

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2016-10615, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls curses

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Curses 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 curses 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 Curses, 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 `curses` 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 `curses`. ## Recommendation No patch is currently available for this vulnerability, and the package has not been updated since 2013. The best mitigation is currently to avoid using this package, using a different package if available. Alternatively, the risk of exploitation can be reduced 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-2016-10615 Affected Curses Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
curses
npm/curses
npm
≤ 0.0.10

References

NVD — CVE-2016-10615 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10615
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8p52-7cxv-6c95
www.npmjs.com/advisories/215 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/215

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-10615?
CVE-2016-10615 is a security vulnerability in Curses involving Downloads Resources over HTTP in curses under CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data.
Which Curses versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: curses.
What version fixes CVE-2016-10615?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is curses affected?
Yes, curses is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-10615?
CVE-2016-10615 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-2016-10615?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls curses'. 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-8p52-7cxv-6c95",
  "modified" : "2021-01-08T19:08:24Z",
  "published" : "2019-02-18T23:56:47Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-10615" ],
  "summary" : "Downloads Resources over HTTP in curses",
  "details" : "Affected versions of `curses` 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 `curses`.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nNo patch is currently available for this vulnerability, and the package has not been updated since 2013.\n\nThe best mitigation is currently to avoid using this package, using a different package if available. \n\nAlternatively, the risk of exploitation can be reduced 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" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "curses"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "0.0.10"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10615"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8p52-7cxv-6c95"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/215"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-311" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:26:04Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}