Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
shell-quote is a Node.js package used to prepare text for shell commands. Versions 1.6.0 and earlier mishandle redirection characters, which can let malicious input change the shell command’s behavior. Business risk depends on whether applications pass user-controlled data through shell-quote into shell execution.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted remediation item for applications that execute shell commands. Prioritize internet-facing services, automation platforms, and administrative tooling where malicious input could affect command execution.
Technical view
CVE-2016-10541 is a CWE-78 command injection issue in the shell-quote npm module. The source says versions 1.6.0 and earlier do not correctly escape the ">" and "<" redirection operators. Applications depending on vulnerable shell-quote versions may be vulnerable when untrusted input reaches shell command construction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Node.js applications with shell-quote <=1.6.0 in direct or transitive dependencies, especially where user-controlled input is used to build shell commands.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires a vulnerable application code path where attacker-controlled input is processed through shell-quote and then interpreted by a shell.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies the vulnerable package, version boundary, CWE-78 class, and affected escaping behavior. The bundle does not provide CVSS details, active exploitation evidence, or exact fixed-version text, so remediation should be checked against current vendor advisory guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory direct and transitive shell-quote dependencies.
- Upgrade or replace shell-quote <=1.6.0 following vendor advisory guidance.
- Review shell command construction using user-controlled input.
- Prefer structured process APIs that avoid shell interpretation.
- Add input validation around operational command parameters.
Validation and detection
- Check package manifests and lockfiles for shell-quote <=1.6.0.
- Generate an SBOM and confirm no vulnerable transitive dependency remains.
- Review code paths that pass untrusted input into shell execution.
- Run dependency scanning in CI against npm advisory data.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2016-10541 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://nodesecurity.io/advisories/117CVE reference
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-qg8p-v9q4-gh34CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.