CVE-2017-9951
The try_read_command function in memcached.c in memcached before 1.4.39 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a request to add/set a key, which makes a comparison between signed and unsigned int and triggers a…
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (4.17%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
The try_read_command function in memcached.c in memcached before 1.4.39 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a request to add/set a key, which makes a comparison between signed and unsigned int and triggers a heap-based buffer over-read. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-8705.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 4.17% probability · 91th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Affected
- memcached/memcached
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 4.2% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99874
- https://github.com/memcached/memcached/wiki/ReleaseNotes1439Third Party Advisory
- https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=memcached/ubGWrkmrr4E/nrm1SeVJAQAJMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3588-1/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4218
- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/07/13/cve-2017-9951-heap-overflow-memcached-server-1-4-38-twistlock-vulnerability-report/Exploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99874
- https://github.com/memcached/memcached/wiki/ReleaseNotes1439Third Party Advisory
- https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=memcached/ubGWrkmrr4E/nrm1SeVJAQAJMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3588-1/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4218
- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/07/13/cve-2017-9951-heap-overflow-memcached-server-1-4-38-twistlock-vulnerability-report/Exploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.