CVE-2017-16010 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2017-16010 was published on April 26, 2018, by HackerOne. It affects the i18next node module versions 2.0.0 to 3.4.3, leading to a cross-site scripting vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2017-16010

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the i18next language translation framework that can be exploited for cross-site scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2017-16010?

i18next, a language translation framework, is susceptible to a cross-site scripting vulnerability when the .init method is used without specifying escapeValue, potentially allowing unescaped user input.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16010

The vulnerability in i18next versions 2.0.0 and later can lead to cross-site scripting attacks due to incorrect assumptions about user input escaping.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16010

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the default behavior of the .init method in i18next, which can result in unescaped user input, creating a cross-site scripting risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: i18next node module
Vendor: HackerOne
Versions Affected: >=2.0.0 <=3.4.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs when interpolation options are passed without specifying escapeValue, leading to unescaped user input and potential cross-site scripting attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16010 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update i18next to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Review and sanitize user input to prevent cross-site scripting attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding to mitigate XSS risks.
Regularly monitor and apply security updates to all software components.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely patching of i18next to the latest version to eliminate the cross-site scripting vulnerability.