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CVE Record

CVE-2017-16024: The sync-exec module is used to simulate child_process.execSync in node versions <0.11.9.

The sync-exec module is used to simulate child_process.execSync in node versions <0.11.9. Sync-exec uses tmp directories as a buffer before returning values. Other users on the server have read access to the tmp directory, possibly allowing an attacker on the server to obtain confidential information from the buffer/tmp file, while it exists.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2017-16024 affects the sync-exec Node module. It may temporarily place returned data in shared temporary directories that other local server users can read, creating a confidentiality risk if the output contains secrets or sensitive business data.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted confidentiality issue, not an internet-scale emergency. Prioritize if sync-exec runs on shared infrastructure or handles credentials, tokens, customer data, or operational secrets.

Technical view

sync-exec simulates child_process.execSync for older Node versions and uses temporary directories as a return buffer. The CVE maps to CWE-377, insecure temporary file handling. Sources identify all versions of the sync-exec module as affected, but provide no CVSS score or confirmed patched version.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in legacy Node applications that include sync-exec, especially on shared or multi-user servers. Single-user isolated runtimes reduce practical risk.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Abuse appears to require local server access during the temporary file lifetime.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to advisory metadata and linked issue/advisory references. No CVSS vector, exploit confirmation, or named patched version is present in the supplied bundle, so remediation should be validated against current package guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify applications or dependency trees using sync-exec.
  • Check vendor and advisory guidance for any maintained replacement or fix.
  • Remove or replace sync-exec where feasible after compatibility testing.
  • Avoid processing secrets through sync-exec on shared hosts.
  • Limit shell access to affected application servers.

Validation and detection

  • Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for sync-exec.
  • Confirm whether affected applications run on shared multi-user systems.
  • Review whether sync-exec output can contain secrets or customer data.
  • Check host temporary directory permissions and isolation controls.
  • Document compensating controls if removal is delayed.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

CWE-377: 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2017-16024 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
HackerOnesync-exec node moduleAll versionsListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-377

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-377 · source CWE mapping

Insecure Temporary File

Insecure Temporary File represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs