Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
mockserve, a Node.js file server module, can let a remote requester reach files outside the intended served directory by using directory traversal in the URL. That can expose sensitive local files if the service is reachable. Public sources do not provide CVSS, a confirmed patch, or active exploitation evidence.
Executive priority
Prioritize this if mockserve is internet-facing, used in shared environments, or running on systems with sensitive files. If it is only a retired development dependency, handle through normal dependency cleanup.
Technical view
CVE-2017-16146 is a CWE-22 directory traversal issue in the mockserve node module. The CVE description says all versions are affected and that ../ sequences in a URL can give access to the filesystem. Available sources do not identify a fixed version or vendor mitigation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to environments that install and run the mockserve node module as a reachable file server. Risk rises if it serves traffic from untrusted users or runs near secrets. Sources identify all versions affected but do not describe deployment prevalence.
Exploitation context
The source bundle includes a public proof-of-concept reference, but no KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation. Treat this as a known, publicly documented issue, not as confirmed exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence is concise but consistent: all versions of mockserve are listed as affected by directory traversal. Missing data includes CVSS, exact fixed version, affected CPEs, and confirmed exploitation. Avoid assuming broader product impact beyond the mockserve node module.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory projects and images for the mockserve node module.
- Remove or replace mockserve where untrusted users can reach it.
- Restrict network access to any remaining mockserve instances.
- Run the service with least filesystem privileges.
- Check current package or vendor guidance for any replacement recommendation.
Validation and detection
- Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for mockserve.
- Confirm whether any mockserve process is network reachable.
- Review served root configuration and filesystem permissions.
- Check logs for suspicious traversal-style URL requests.
- Verify no sensitive files are readable through the service boundary.
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-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection 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 lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2017-16146 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://github.com/JacksonGL/NPM-Vuln-PoC/blob/master/directory-traversal/mockserveCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://nodesecurity.io/advisories/445CVE 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.
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.