CVE-2017-16111 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The content module within the hapijs framework, provided by HackerOne, is vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to specially crafted HTTP Content-* headers.

Understanding CVE-2017-16111

What is CVE-2017-16111?

The CVE-2017-16111 vulnerability is found in the content node module, affecting versions <=3.0.5. It allows for a denial of service attack through manipulated Content-Type or Content-Disposition headers.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16111

The vulnerability can be exploited to cause regular expression denial of service, potentially disrupting the functionality of the hapijs framework.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16111

Vulnerability Description

The content module, crucial for parsing HTTP Content-* headers in hapijs, is susceptible to denial of service attacks when specific headers are crafted maliciously.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: content node module
Vendor: HackerOne
Versions affected: <=3.0.5

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is triggered by passing specially crafted Content-Type or Content-Disposition headers, leading to regular expression denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the content node module to a version beyond 3.0.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict incoming HTTP headers to prevent malicious inputs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update dependencies to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement input validation and sanitization to prevent header manipulation.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by HackerOne to secure the content module within the hapijs framework.