CVE-2017-17562 — Embedthis GoAhead Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Embedthis GoAhead before 3.6.5 allows remote code execution if CGI is enabled and a CGI program is dynamically linked. This is a result of initializing the environment of forked CGI scripts using untrusted HTTP request parameters in the cgiHandler function in cgi.c. When combined with the glibc dynamic linker, this behaviour can be abused for remote code execution using special parameter names such as LD_PRELOAD. An attacker can POST their shared object payload in the body of the request, and reference it using /proc/self/fd/0.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
- Public exploit/PoC (nuclei, metasploit, exploitdb)+20
- EPSS 96.3% (30-day exploitation probability)+15
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — www.oracle.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — www.elttam.com.au (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
CISA required action CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal deadline: Jun 10, 2022 — passed 1588 day(s) ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Embedthis Goahead, Oracle Integrated Lights Out Manager).
- Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- EPSS ahead of 100% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embedthis | Goahead | < 3.6.5 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Oracle | Integrated Lights Out Manager | version 3.0version 4.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.2 | 5.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.2 | 5.9 | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | CISA-ADP via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.0 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 6.8 | CVSS 2.0 | Medium | 8.6 | 6.4 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) CISA KEV details CISA
CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.
Public exploits, PoCs and detection templates
Public code that demonstrates or tests the flaw raises the odds of mass exploitation — and Nuclei templates help find vulnerable assets in your environment.
- GoAhead Web Server LD_PRELOAD Arbitrary Module Load excellent Dec 18, 2017
- GoAhead Web Server 2.5 < 3.6.5 - HTTPd 'LD_PRELOAD' Remote Code Execution verified Dec 18, 2017
- GoAhead Web Server 2.5 < 3.6.5 - HTTPd 'LD_PRELOAD' Arbitrary Module Load (Metasploit) verified Jan 24, 2018
Warning: public PoCs are sometimes disguised malware. Use them only for authorized testing in an isolated environment. This portal does not host exploit code — it only points to the sources.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 96.26%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Hunt retroactively in logs from before Dec 10, 2021 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · embedthis/goahead, oracle/integrated lights out manager
- CVSS changed · 8.1
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Added to CISA KEV (detected)
- Record created in this database
- 2021
- Added to CISA KEV catalog
- 2017
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
14 on the record
- github.com/embedthis/goahead/commit/6f786c123196eb622625a920d54048629a7caa74
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html
- www.elttam.com.au/blog/goahead/
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43877
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-q5wm-274q-f3v6
- www.elttam.com.au/blog/goahead
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43360
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43360/
- github.com/elttam/advisories/tree/master/CVE-2017-17562
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17562
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1040702
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43877/
- github.com/embedthis/goahead/issues/249
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2017-5674 A vulnerability in a custom-built GoAhead web server used on Foscam, Vstarcam, and multiple white... Mar 13, 2017
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2017-17562 is "Embedthis GoAhead Remote Code Execution Vulnerability", rated High. It affects Goahead (Embedthis); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 8.1 describes technical severity. EPSS 96.26% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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