Summary
passport-wsfed-saml2 vulnerable to Signature Bypass in SAML2 token
Information
Please note that this is not a new disclosure, and is previously reported in our SECURITY-NOTICE.md which we removed in favor of github advisory.
Overview
This vulnerability allows an attacker to impersonate another user and potentially elevate their privileges if the SAML identity provider:
signs SAML response and signs assertion
does not sign SAML response and signs assertion
Am I affected?
You may be affected if you use SAML2 protocol with passport-wsfed-saml2 versions below 3.0.5 and your SAML identity Provider:
- signs SAML response and signs assertion; or
- does not sign SAML response and signs assertion
How do I fix it?
You may fix this vulnerability by upgrading your library to version 3.0.5 or above.
Will the fix impact my users?
This fix patches the library that your application runs, but will not impact your users, their current state, or any existing sessions.
Impact
CVE-2017-16897 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (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. A fixed version is available (3.0.5); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
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.
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Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2017-16897? CVE-2017-16897 is a high-severity security vulnerability in passport-wsfed-saml2 (npm), affecting versions < 3.0.5. It is fixed in 3.0.5.
- How severe is CVE-2017-16897? CVE-2017-16897 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (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 passport-wsfed-saml2 are affected by CVE-2017-16897? passport-wsfed-saml2 (npm) versions < 3.0.5 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2017-16897? Yes. CVE-2017-16897 is fixed in 3.0.5. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2017-16897 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2017-16897 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-2017-16897 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.
- How do I fix CVE-2017-16897? Upgrade
passport-wsfed-saml2to 3.0.5 or later.