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CVE Record

CVE-2017-16055: `sqlserver` was a malicious module published with the intent to hijack environment variables.

`sqlserver` was a malicious module published with the intent to hijack environment variables. It has been unpublished by npm.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This CVE concerns a malicious npm package named `sqlserver`. Its purpose was to capture environment variables, which often contain credentials, tokens, and service configuration. npm has unpublished the package. The main concern is historical or cached use in Node.js projects, build systems, or runtime environments.

Executive priority

Treat confirmed presence as a secret-exposure incident. If the package is absent from inventories and artifacts, broad emergency action is not supported by the provided evidence.

Technical view

CVE-2017-16055 is classified as CWE-506: embedded malicious code. The affected package is the `sqlserver` Node module, all versions. The source states it was published with intent to hijack environment variables and has been unpublished by npm. No CVSS score or patch details are provided.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to projects that installed `sqlserver` before it was unpublished, or environments using cached artifacts, old lockfiles, mirrors, or containers containing the package.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. The risk exists if the package was installed and executed in an environment containing sensitive environment variables.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse: no CVSS, no exploit telemetry, and no detailed technical write-up are included. Analysis should focus on dependency provenance, historical installation, reachable execution contexts, and environment variable exposure.

Mitigation direction

  • Remove `sqlserver` from package manifests, lockfiles, images, and internal mirrors.
  • Replace it with a reviewed, legitimate SQL Server client package.
  • Rotate secrets that were available where the package may have executed.
  • Check current npm and vendor guidance for any additional remediation.
  • Review build caches and artifact repositories for retained copies.

Validation and detection

  • Search source repositories, lockfiles, SBOMs, and dependency inventories for `sqlserver`.
  • Check CI, build, and deployment logs for historical installation of the package.
  • Confirm production images and serverless bundles do not include the package.
  • Identify environment variables exposed to affected builds or runtimes.
  • Review advisory 486 and CVE records for any updated guidance.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

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

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-506: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2017-16055 mapping review

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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
2Source 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
HackerOnesqlserver node moduleAll versionsListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-506

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