CVE-2017-17562
Confirmed PUBLISHEDEmbedthis 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...
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
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.
- CVE Published
- Dec 12, 2017
- Exploitation Reported
- Dec 10, 2021
- CVSS
- 8.1 High
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a |
n/a
|
n/a |
Affected |
CVE References
- 43360 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43360/
- 43877 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43877/
- 1040702 securitytracker.com · VDB Entry http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040702
- GitHub — elttam/advisories github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/elttam/advisories/tree/master/CVE-2017-17562
- elttam.com.au/blog/goahead elttam.com.au · CVE Record https://www.elttam.com.au/blog/goahead/
Show 3 more references
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-367... oracle.com · CVE Record http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-367806...
- GitHub — embedthis/goahead github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/embedthis/goahead/commit/6f786c123196eb622625a920d...
- GitHub — embedthis/goahead github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/embedthis/goahead/issues/249
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2021-12-10 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2017/CVE-2017-17562.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/goahead_ldpreload.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2021-12-10 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2017-12-27 05:46:50 UTC · GitHub
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/goahead_ldpreload.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2017/CVE-2017-17562.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2021-11-17 18:21:54 UTC · 1 stars
PoC for CVE-2017-17562 written in bash
github · Created 2019-11-23 08:40:49 UTC · 0 stars
github · Created 2019-10-16 16:28:27 UTC · 9 stars
Standalone Python 3 exploit for CVE-2017-17562
github · Created 2017-12-27 05:46:50 UTC · 1 stars
CVE-2017-17562 GOAHEAD RCE (Author: Daniel Hodson)
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC about 1 year ago00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
05:46 UTC over 8 years ago05:46 UTC · over 8 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
19:00 UTC over 8 years ago19:00 UTC · over 8 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC over 8 years ago00:00 UTC · over 8 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2017-17562
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2017-17562",
"title": "Embedthis GoAhead before 3.6.5 allows remote code execution if CGI is enabled...",
"affected_vendor": "Embedthis",
"affected_product": "GoAhead",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 8.1,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}