CVE-2017-16003
windows-build-tools downloads Resources over HTTP
windows-build-tools is a module for installing C++ Build Tools for Windows using npm. windows-build-tools versions below 1.0.0 download resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested resources with an attacker controlled copy if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
windows-build-tools is a module for installing C++ Build Tools for Windows using npm. windows-build-tools versions below 1.0.0 download resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested resources with an attacker controlled copy if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
- Record
CVE-2017-16003- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 9.3 High
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-311
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
windows-build-tools is a module for installing C++ Build Tools for Windows using npm. windows-build-tools versions below 1.0.0 download resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested resources with an attacker controlled copy if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
- Record
CVE-2017-16003- Weakness
- CWE-311
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-0741 No score
windows-build-tools is a module for installing C++ Build Tools for Windows using npm. windows-build-tools versions below 1.0.0 download resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested resources with an attacker controlled copy if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
- Record
EUVD-2018-0741- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr
windows-build-tools downloads Resources over HTTP
Affected versions of windows-build-tools insecurely download an executable over an unencrypted HTTP connection.
In scenarios where an attacker has a privileged network position, it is possible to intercept the response and replace the executable with a malicious one, resulting in code execution on the system running windows-build-tools.
Recommendation
Update to version 1.0.0 or later.
- Record
GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-311
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
windows-build-tools is a module for installing C++ Build Tools for Windows using npm. windows-build-tools versions below 1.0.0 download resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested resources with an attacker controlled copy if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
- Record
CVE-2017-16003- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr
windows-build-tools downloads Resources over HTTP
Affected versions of windows-build-tools insecurely download an executable over an unencrypted HTTP connection.
In scenarios where an attacker has a privileged network position, it is possible to intercept the response and replace the executable with a malicious one, resulting in code execution on the system running windows-build-tools.
Recommendation
Update to version 1.0.0 or later.
- Record
GHSA-9p47-w5xp-f4xr- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-311
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
windows-build-toolsnpm |
before 1.0.0 | 1.0.0 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2017-16003 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Windows-build-tools Project Windows-build-tools, published May 29, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.20%, the 82nd percentile. Fixed in windows-build-tools 1.0.0.
References
nodesecurity.io/advisories/304
github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/commit/9835d33e68f2cb5e4d148e954bb3ed0221d98e90
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16003
npmjs.com/advisories/304