CVE-2017-17562

Embedthis GoAhead before 3.6.5 allows remote code execution if CGI is enabled and a CGI program is dynamically linked. This is a result of initializing the environment of forked CGI scripts using untrusted HTTP request parameters in the cgiHandler function in cgi.c. When combined with the glibc dynamic linker, this behaviour can be abused for remote code execution using special parameter names such as LD_PRELOAD. An attacker can POST their shared object payload in the body of the request, and reference it using /proc/self/fd/0.

Score

CVSS 3.1 8.1 High

Status

Analyzed - cve@mitre.org

Published

2017-12-12

Last modified

2025-10-21

Known exploited (CISA KEV)

since 2021-12-10, action due 2022-06-10: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected products

• Goahead (Embedthis)
• Integrated Lights Out Manager (Oracle)

References

• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040702
• https://github.com/elttam/advisories/tree/master/CVE-2017-17562
• https://github.com/embedthis/goahead/commit/6f786c123196eb622625a920d54048629a7caa74
• https://github.com/embedthis/goahead/issues/249
• https://www.elttam.com.au/blog/goahead/
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43360/
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43877/
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-17562