CVE-2017-16205: Coffescript Coffescript Is Malware Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mc9x-v9xg-25pm
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-506
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-16205 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) coffescript is malware vulnerability (CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code) affecting Coffescript libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves coffescript is malware. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2017-16205 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-16205
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mc9x-v9xg-25pm
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code
Affected Product Coffescript
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2017-16205

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

coffescript fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install coffescript@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 coffescript

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2017-16205, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls coffescript

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Coffescript 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 coffescript 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-506: Embedded Malicious Code, where the product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature. In Coffescript, 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

The `coffescript` package is a piece of malware that steals sensitive data such as a user's private SSH key and bash history, sending them to attacker controlled locations. All versions have been unpublished from the npm registry. ## Recommendation If you have found `coffescript` installed in your environment, you should: 1. Delete the package 2. Clear your npm cache 3. Ensure it is not present in any other package.json files on your system 4. Regenerate your SSH keys, registry credentials, tokens, and any other sensitive credentials that may have been present in your bash history. Additionally, any service which may have been exposed via credentials in your bash history or accessible via your ssh keys, such as a database, should be reviewed for indicators of compromise as well.

CVE-2017-16205 Affected Coffescript Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
coffescript
npm/coffescript
npm
1.0.1
All 1 versions
1.0.1
None specified

References

NVD — CVE-2017-16205 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16205
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mc9x-v9xg-25pm
www.npmjs.com/advisories/542 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/542

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-16205?
CVE-2017-16205 is a security vulnerability in Coffescript involving coffescript is malware under CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code.
Which Coffescript versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: coffescript.
What version fixes CVE-2017-16205?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is coffescript affected?
Yes, coffescript 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-2017-16205?
CVE-2017-16205 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-16205?
CVE-2017-16205 is classified under CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code (The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2017-16205?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls coffescript'. 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-mc9x-v9xg-25pm",
  "modified" : "2023-09-12T18:43:18Z",
  "published" : "2018-08-06T20:12:54Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-16205" ],
  "summary" : "coffescript is malware",
  "details" : "The `coffescript` package is a piece of malware that steals sensitive data such as a user's private SSH key and bash history, sending them to attacker controlled locations. \n\nAll versions have been unpublished from the npm registry.\n\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nIf you have found `coffescript` installed in your environment, you should:\n1. Delete the package\n2. Clear your npm cache\n3. Ensure it is not present in any other package.json files on your system\n4. Regenerate your SSH keys, registry credentials, tokens, and any other sensitive credentials that may have been present in your bash history.\n\nAdditionally, any service which may have been exposed via credentials in your bash history or accessible via your ssh keys, such as a database, should be reviewed for indicators of compromise as well.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "coffescript"
    },
    "versions" : [ "1.0.1" ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16205"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mc9x-v9xg-25pm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/542"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-506" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:45:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}