What is CVE-2017-16063?

CVE-2017-16063 is a high-severity security vulnerability in node-opensl (npm), affecting versions > 0. No fixed version is listed yet.

How severe is CVE-2017-16063?

CVE-2017-16063 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Which versions of node-opensl are affected by CVE-2017-16063?

node-opensl (npm) versions > 0 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2017-16063?

No fixed version is listed for CVE-2017-16063 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.

Is CVE-2017-16063 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2017-16063 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

What actually determines whether CVE-2017-16063 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

CVE-2017-16063 in node-opensl

Summary

node-opensl is malware

The node-opensl package is a piece of malware that steals environment variables and sends them to attacker controlled locations.

All versions have been unpublished from the npm registry.

Impact

CVE-2017-16063 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.

Affected versions

node-opensl (> 0)

Security releases

Not available

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

Already deployed Kodem?

See it in your environment New to Kodem? Get a demo →

Remediation advice

As this package is malware, if you find it installed in your environment, the real security concern is determining how it got there.

If you have found this installed in your environment, you should:

Delete the package
Clear your npm cache
Ensure it is not present in any other package.json files on your system
Regenerate your registry credentials, tokens, and any other sensitive credentials that may have been present in your environment variables.

Additionally, any service which may have been exposed via credentials in your environment variables, such as a database, should be reviewed for indicators of compromise as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-16063? CVE-2017-16063 is a high-severity security vulnerability in node-opensl (npm), affecting versions > 0. No fixed version is listed yet.
How severe is CVE-2017-16063? CVE-2017-16063 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
Which versions of node-opensl are affected by CVE-2017-16063? node-opensl (npm) versions > 0 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2017-16063? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2017-16063 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
Is CVE-2017-16063 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2017-16063 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
What actually determines whether CVE-2017-16063 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.