# CVE-2017-10686: Use after free in n/a

> A use-after-free vulnerability in NASM allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted input files.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 29 Jun 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-10686, GHSA-vppv-9vcp-9fcg, SUSE-SU-2017:2045-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-10686

## What is CVE-2017-10686?

CVE-2017-10686 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 29 Jun 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In Netwide Assembler (NASM) 2.14rc0, there are multiple heap use after free vulnerabilities in the tool nasm. The related heap is allocated in the token() function and freed in the detoken() function (called by pp_getline()) - it is used again at multiple positions later that could cause multiple damages. For example, it causes a corrupted double-linked list in detoken(), a double free or corruption in delete_Token(), and an out-of-bounds write in detoken(). It has a high possibility to lead to a remote code execution attack.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-10686?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `nasm` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.03.90-2.3.1 |

Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Nasm Netwide Assembler.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-10686?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2017-10686 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-10686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-10686 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-10686 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 29 Jun 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-10686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10686/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10686/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-10686
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-10686
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-10686

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10686/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.