Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This CVE affects the Node.js prince module used to drive PrinceXML PDF rendering. It fetches zipped resources over plain HTTP, so a network-positioned attacker could replace a download and potentially gain code execution. The sources do not provide a CVSS score, patch version, or evidence of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted supply-chain and build-environment risk, not a broad internet-facing emergency. Prioritize systems that generate PDFs in automated pipelines or sensitive environments, especially where outbound HTTP is allowed.
Technical view
CVE-2016-10591 is a CWE-311 transport-security issue in the prince Node module. The module downloads zipped resources over HTTP when invoking the PrinceXML CLI. If an attacker can intercept that network path, the downloaded archive may be substituted with attacker-controlled content, creating possible RCE exposure.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to applications, CI jobs, or PDF-generation services that install or run the affected prince Node module and permit its HTTP resource downloads. The provided data lists all versions as affected but does not identify downstream products or package versions.
Exploitation context
The cited description requires a man-in-the-middle position between the user and remote server. The source bundle does not show KEV status, public exploitation, exploit maturity, or confirmed real-world attacks.
Researcher notes
The provided sources are sparse: no CVSS vector, fixed version, exploit references, or detailed affected-version matrix. The evidence supports MITM-based archive substitution risk in the Node module, not a general claim against all PrinceXML deployments.
Mitigation direction
- Check current npm, vendor, and Node Security advisory guidance for replacement or remediation.
- Remove the prince Node module where it is not required.
- Avoid running affected installs or rendering jobs on untrusted networks.
- Restrict outbound HTTP downloads from build and rendering environments.
- Prefer dependencies and workflows that retrieve artifacts over authenticated TLS.
Validation and detection
- Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for the prince Node module.
- Identify hosts or CI jobs that execute PrinceXML through Node wrappers.
- Review network egress logs for HTTP downloads during install or rendering workflows.
- Confirm whether compensating controls block unauthenticated HTTP artifact retrieval.
- Document any remaining use and the business owner for remediation tracking.
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-311: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2016-10591 mapping review
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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/185CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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.
Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.