CVE-2017-1000373
The OpenBSD qsort() function is recursive, and not randomized, an attacker can construct a pathological input array of N elements that causes qsort() to deterministically recurse N/4 times.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 13.4%, higher than 96% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
The OpenBSD qsort() function is recursive, and not randomized, an attacker can construct a pathological input array of N elements that causes qsort() to deterministically recurse N/4 times. This allows attackers to consume arbitrary amounts of stack memory and manipulate stack memory to assist in arbitrary code execution attacks. This affects OpenBSD 6.1 and possibly earlier versions.
- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 MEDIUMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
- EPSS
- 13.38% probability · 96th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 28 June 2017
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-400
- Affected
- openbsd/openbsd
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 14.9% on 21 September 2026 to 13.4% on 27 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99177Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039427
- https://cvsweb.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/lib/libc/stdlib/qsort.c?rev=1.15&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markupMitigation, Third Party Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT208112
- https://support.apple.com/HT208113
- https://support.apple.com/HT208115
- https://support.apple.com/HT208144
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42271/
- https://www.qualys.com/2017/06/19/stack-clash/stack-clash.txtThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99177Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039427
- https://cvsweb.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/lib/libc/stdlib/qsort.c?rev=1.15&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markupMitigation, Third Party Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT208112
- https://support.apple.com/HT208113
- https://support.apple.com/HT208115
- https://support.apple.com/HT208144
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42271/
- https://www.qualys.com/2017/06/19/stack-clash/stack-clash.txtThird Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.