Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2017-3169: Apache HTTP Server: NULL Pointer Dereference

CVE-2017-3169 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.8 and NVD lists Apache HTTP Server as the affected product. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

In Apache httpd 2.2.x before 2.2.33 and 2.4.x before 2.4.26, mod_ssl may dereference a NULL pointer when third-party modules call ap_hook_process_connection() during an HTTP request to an HTTPS port.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.0 9.8: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

Affected products

  • Apache HTTP Server: 2.2.0; 2.2.2; 2.2.3; 2.2.11; 2.2.12; 2.2.13; 2.2.14; 2.2.15; 2.2.16; 2.2.17; 2.2.18; 2.2.19

References