CVE-2017-16117 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

The slug module, used for converting strings into slugs, is vulnerable to regular expression denial of service attacks due to malicious input, potentially causing a 2-second block in the event loop.

Understanding CVE-2017-16117

The CVE-2017-16117 vulnerability affects the 'slug node module' by HackerOne.

What is CVE-2017-16117?

The slug module converts strings into slugs but can be exploited by specially crafted untrusted input, leading to denial of service attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16117

A malicious input of approximately 50 thousand characters can block the event loop for about 2 seconds, impacting system performance.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16117

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The slug module is susceptible to regular expression denial of service attacks when encountering malicious input, potentially causing a 2-second event loop block.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: slug node module
Vendor: HackerOne
Versions: All versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by providing specially crafted untrusted input, triggering denial of service attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-16117 with the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the slug module to a patched version.
Implement input validation to prevent malicious input.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates related to the slug module.
Conduct security assessments to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by HackerOne to address the CVE-2017-16117 vulnerability.