CVE-2017-16544
In the add_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used to get a list of filenames in a directory, does not sanitize filenames and results in executing any escape sequence in the terminal.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (6.14%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
In the add_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used to get a list of filenames in a directory, does not sanitize filenames and results in executing any escape sequence in the terminal. This could potentially result in code execution, arbitrary file writes, or other attacks.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 6.14% probability · 93th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-94
- Affected
- busybox/busybox · debian/debian linux · vmware/esxi · redlion/n-tron 702-w firmware · redlion/n-tron 702m12-w firmware · canonical/ubuntu linux
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 6.1% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154536/VMware-Security-Advisory-2019-0013.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167552/Nexans-FTTO-GigaSwitch-Outdated-Components-Hardcoded-Backdoor.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/20Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/15Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Sep/6Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Aug/21Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jan/39Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jun/36Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0013.htmlThird Party Advisory
- https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=c3797d40a1c57352192c6106cc0f435e7d9c11e8Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00037.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00020.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jun/14Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-240-01Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3935-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/11/20/cve-2017-16544-busybox-autocompletion-vulnerability/Third Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154536/VMware-Security-Advisory-2019-0013.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167552/Nexans-FTTO-GigaSwitch-Outdated-Components-Hardcoded-Backdoor.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/20Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/15Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Sep/6Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Aug/21Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jan/39Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.