CVE-2017-16013 : Security Advisory and Response

Hapi, an application framework for web and services, throws an unhandled exception when encountering a malformed

accept-encoding

header in versions between 15.0.0 and 16.1.0, potentially leading to crashes or client connection hang-ups.

Understanding CVE-2017-16013

Hapi, a popular web and services application framework, is susceptible to a Denial of Service vulnerability due to a specific issue in versions 15.0.0 to 16.1.0.

What is CVE-2017-16013?

CVE-2017-16013 is a vulnerability in the Hapi node module that can cause the application to crash or hang client connections when faced with a malformed

accept-encoding

header.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16013

The vulnerability poses a risk of Denial of Service (DoS) as Hapi may crash or cause client connections to hang, potentially leading to service unavailability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16013

Hapi's vulnerability in versions 15.0.0 to 16.1.0 can be further understood through the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

When Hapi encounters a malformed

accept-encoding

header, it throws an unhandled exception, which can result in application crashes or client connection hang-ups.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Hapi node module
Vendor: HackerOne
Versions Affected: >= 15.0.0 <= 16.1.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by sending a specially crafted malformed

accept-encoding

header to the Hapi application, triggering the unhandled exception.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-16013 and enhance security measures, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Hapi to a version beyond 16.1.0 to eliminate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict incoming network traffic to detect and block malicious requests.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software components to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement robust error handling mechanisms to gracefully manage exceptions and prevent crashes.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Hapi and HackerOne to apply patches promptly and ensure system security.