Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-16460 is a command injection flaw in the Node.js ps package. If an attacker can control the PID value passed to the package, the application may execute unintended operating-system commands. Business urgency depends on whether vulnerable ps versions are present and receive attacker-influenced PID input.
Executive priority
Treat this as priority remediation if vulnerable ps versions exist in production and PID input can be attacker influenced. If usage is absent or PID values are internal-only, prioritize normal dependency hygiene and document the decision.
Technical view
The CVE describes CWE-77 command injection in ps package versions before 1.0.0 for Node.js. The vulnerable condition is attacker control of the PID argument. Public metadata does not provide CVSS, detailed affected environments, or confirmed exploitation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Node.js applications or dependencies using ps versions below 1.0.0 and passing externally influenced PID values. Systems without this package, or without attacker-controlled PID input, are less likely exposed.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The impact could be serious because successful exploitation may execute arbitrary commands, but the prerequisite is attacker influence over the PID value.
Researcher notes
Metadata is limited: no CVSS vector, no KEV entry, and only one public reference is listed. The CVE description identifies versions before 1.0.0, while the affected metadata is sparse, so validate package version interpretation against the cited sources.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory applications and lockfiles for the Node.js ps package.
- Move off ps versions below 1.0.0 where present.
- Check the HackerOne report and vendor guidance for confirmed remediation details.
- Restrict or validate any externally supplied PID values.
- Rebuild and redeploy affected Node.js services after dependency updates.
Validation and detection
- Review package-lock.json, yarn.lock, or pnpm-lock.yaml for ps versions.
- Trace code paths that pass PID values into ps APIs.
- Confirm whether any PID value can come from users, requests, jobs, or integrations.
- Verify updated dependency versions in built deployment artifacts.
- Run regression tests covering process-inspection behavior after changes.
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-77: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter 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 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-2018-16460 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://hackerone.com/reports/390848CVE 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 Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.