CVE-2017-16544
Published: August 31, 2023Last modified: July 22, 2025
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.
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Base score | 8.8 |
| Attack Vector | NETWORK |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | LOW |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity impact | HIGH |
| Availability impact | HIGH |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
Status
| Product | Release | Package | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaquita Linux | 23 LTS | busybox | Not affected (1.35.0-r30) |
| Stream | busybox | Not affected (1.36.1-r6) | |
| Hardened Containers | 23 LTS | busybox | Not affected (1.35.0-r30) |
| Stream | busybox | Not affected (1.36.1-r6) |
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154536/VMware-Security-Advisory-2019-0013.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167552/Nexans-FTTO-GigaSwitch-Outdated-Components-Hardcoded-Backdoor.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/20
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/15
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Sep/6
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Aug/21
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jan/39
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jun/36
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0013.html
- https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=c3797d40a1c57352192c6106cc0f435e7d9c11e8
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00037.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00020.html
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jun/14
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7
- https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-240-01
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3935-1/
- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/11/20/cve-2017-16544-busybox-autocompletion-vulnerability/