How severe is CVE-2017-16081?

No CVSS score has been assigned to CVE-2017-16081 yet. Review the advisory details and affected package list to assess your exposure.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2017-16081?

CVE-2017-16081 affects the following packages: cross-env.js (npm). Ecosystems affected: npm.

How do I fix CVE-2017-16081?

No patched version of cross-env.js has shipped for CVE-2017-16081 yet. Where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range, and apply any maintainer-recommended mitigation.

How do I detect CVE-2017-16081 in my npm dependencies?

Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for cross-env.js, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.

How do I mitigate CVE-2017-16081 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?

Assume what was exposed is already known: rotate any credential, token or key that the affected component could return, restrict the endpoint to callers that genuinely need it, and strip sensitive fields from responses and error output at the boundary rather than relying on the client not to read them.

Is CVE-2017-16081 actively exploited in the wild?

No public exploit code has been indexed for CVE-2017-16081 yet. This does not mean the vulnerability cannot be exploited — absence of public exploits does not imply safety. Apply the recommended fix and use O3 Security to monitor your exposure.

What is the EPSS score for CVE-2017-16081?

CVE-2017-16081 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 1.3%, placing it in the 69th percentile of all CVEs. EPSS is maintained by FIRST.org and estimates the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. This score indicates relatively lower exploitation probability, though the CVSS severity should still guide your patching priority.

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2017-16081?

CVE-2017-16081 is classified as CWE-506 (CWE-506), Information Exposure (CWE-200). These weakness types describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation.

When was CVE-2017-16081 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2017-16081 was published on September 1, 2020 and was last updated on November 8, 2023. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting.

📦 npm

Not in CISA KEV

CVE-2017-16081 — cross-env.js

CVE-2017-16081 is a CWE-506 vulnerability in cross-env.js. No vendor fix is recorded yet; mitigation options are listed below.

cross-env.js is malware

Published

Sep 1, 2020

Updated

Nov 8, 2023

Affected

1 pkg

Patched

See advisory

Exploits

None indexed

Exploitation data as of Oct 10, 2026 · OSV.dev, NVD, FIRST.org (EPSS)

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗

1.3%probability of exploitation in next 30 days

Lower Risk0.00%

Lower risk than most CVEs69th percentile — riskier than 69% of all scored CVEsHighest risk

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.

Real-World Exposure

1 pkg affected

How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, a proxy for how much of the ecosystem is exposed.

cross-env.jsnpm

150downloads / week

Description

The cross-env.js 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.

Recommendation

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.

Affected Packages

1 total

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
📦npm	`cross-env.js`	≥ 0.0.0	No fix

Affected Products

1 product · 1 configurations

Application

cross-env.jscross-env.js_project

all

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency

Detect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for cross-env.js, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Remediation status
No patched version of cross-env.js has shipped for CVE-2017-16081 yet. Where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range, and apply any maintainer-recommended mitigation.
Mitigate without a patch
Assume what was exposed is already known: rotate any credential, token or key that the affected component could return, restrict the endpoint to callers that genuinely need it, and strip sensitive fields from responses and error output at the boundary rather than relying on the client not to read them.

Frequently Asked Questions

The `cross-env.js` 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. ## Recommendation 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: 1. Delete the package 2. Clear your npm cache 3. Ensure it is not present in any other package.json files on your system 4. Regenerate your registry credentials, tokens, and any other s

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