Vulnerabilities in pkg:npm/windows-build-tools

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-16003 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) affecting Windows build tools libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves windows-build-tools downloads resources over http. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.0.0.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:npm/windows-build-tools

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:npm/windows-build-tools. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr CVE-2017-16003 HIGH windows-build-tools downloads Resources over HTTP

CVE-2017-16003 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-16003
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
Affected Product Windows build tools
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-2017-16003

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

windows-build-tools fixed: 1.0.0 
npm install windows-build-tools@1.0.0
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 windows-build-tools

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2017-16003, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls windows-build-tools

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Windows build tools in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.0.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls windows-build-tools 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 Windows build tools, 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 `windows-build-tools` 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 `windows-build-tools`. ## Recommendation Update to version 1.0.0 or later.

CVE-2017-16003 Affected Windows build tools Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.0.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
windows-build-tools
npm/windows-build-tools
npm
< 1.0.0
1.0.0

References

NVD — CVE-2017-16003 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16003
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/commit/9835d33e68f2cb5e4d148e954bb3ed0221d98e90
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/commit/9835d33e68f2cb5e4d148e954bb3ed0221d98e90)
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr
www.npmjs.com/advisories/304 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/304

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-16003?
CVE-2017-16003 is a security vulnerability in Windows build tools involving windows-build-tools downloads Resources over HTTP under CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data.
Which Windows build tools versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.0.0 across affected packages: windows-build-tools.
What version fixes CVE-2017-16003?
Upgrading to 1.0.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is windows-build-tools affected?
Yes, windows-build-tools is affected in releases prior to 1.0.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.0.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-16003?
CVE-2017-16003 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-2017-16003?
CVE-2017-16003 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-2017-16003?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls windows-build-tools'. 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-9p47-w5xp-f4xr",
  "modified" : "2023-09-13T22:23:39Z",
  "published" : "2018-11-09T17:48:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-16003" ],
  "summary" : "windows-build-tools downloads Resources over HTTP",
  "details" : "Affected versions of `windows-build-tools` 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 `windows-build-tools`.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpdate to version 1.0.0 or later.",
  "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" : "windows-build-tools"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16003"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/commit/9835d33e68f2cb5e4d148e954bb3ed0221d98e90"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/commit/9835d33e68f2cb5e4d148e954bb3ed0221d98e90)"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/304"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-311" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:29:09Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}