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CVE Record

CVE-2017-16057: nodemssql was a malicious module published with the intent to hijack environment variables.

nodemssql 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 It has been unpublished by npm.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 analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2017-16057 concerns nodemssql, a malicious Node.js package published to capture environment variables. Environment variables often hold API keys, database credentials, and deployment secrets. npm unpublished the package, but organizations may still be exposed through old dependencies, lockfiles, cached artifacts, or built images.

Executive priority

Treat this as a supply-chain secret exposure issue. Prioritize confirmation of whether the package was ever installed, then rotate credentials that could have been exposed through affected environments.

Technical view

The source bundle identifies nodemssql as a malicious node module affecting all versions, categorized as CWE-506 embedded malicious code. Its stated purpose was to hijack environment variables. No CVSS score, fixed version, or detailed remediation advisory is included beyond npm unpublishing the package.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in Node.js projects that installed nodemssql before it was unpublished, or that still carry it in lockfiles, package caches, SBOMs, CI images, containers, or bundled build artifacts.

Exploitation context

The sources do not confirm active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The risk comes from prior installation or execution of a malicious package designed to access environment variables.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse. The available sources establish malicious intent, all-version impact, npm unpublishing, and CWE-506 classification. They do not provide a CVSS score, exploit telemetry, indicators, payload details, or a fixed replacement package.

Mitigation direction

  • Remove nodemssql from dependencies, lockfiles, and build artifacts.
  • Do not reinstall nodemssql from cached or mirrored package sources.
  • Rotate secrets that were present in affected build or runtime environments.
  • Check npm and vendor guidance for any additional remediation details.
  • Review CI, container, and artifact repositories for retained package copies.

Validation and detection

  • Inspect dependency manifests, lockfiles, and SBOMs for nodemssql.
  • Check historical CI and deployment logs for nodemssql installation evidence.
  • Review built containers and packaged artifacts for the module.
  • Identify environment secrets available during affected install or runtime windows.
  • Confirm rotations for exposed API keys, database credentials, and tokens.
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-2017-16057 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
HackerOnenodemssql 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.