# CVE-2016-10542: DoS due to excessively large websocket message in ws

> An attacker can crash the Node.js process by sending an overly long WebSocket payload to a server using the ws library.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 May 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** CLSA-2026-1784596294, CVE-2016-1000025, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-10542, GHSA-6663-c963-2gqg, MINI-2chg-g267-phx8, MINI-9wj4-66hj-xhx9, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-10542

## What is CVE-2016-10542?

CVE-2016-10542 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in HackerOne ws node module, published on 31 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ws is a "simple to use, blazing fast and thoroughly tested websocket client, server and console for node.js, up-to-date against RFC-6455". By sending an overly long websocket payload to a `ws` server, it is possible to crash the node process. This affects ws 1.1.0 and earlier.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-10542?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including ws. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ws` | npm | All versions | 1.1.1 |
| `ws` | npm | All versions | 1.1.1 |

Products: Ws Project Ws.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-10542?

Upgrade ws to 1.1.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2016-10542 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-10542 exists.

Public exploit code:

- ws - Denial of Service (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in HackerOne ws node module

- [CVE-2026-48779](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-48779/): ws: Memory exhaustion DoS from tiny fragments and data chunks (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2016-10518](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10518/): Remote Memory Disclosure in ws (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2026-45736](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45736/): ws: Uninitialized memory disclosure (medium 4.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-10542 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-10542 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in HackerOne ws node module, published on 31 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-10542 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- ws (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 1.1.1
- ws (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 1.1.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10542/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10542/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-10542
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10542
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-10542

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10542/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.