# CVE-2017-10974: Path traversal in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can read arbitrary files from the Yaws web server by using encoded backslashes to bypass directory traversal protections.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Jul 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-10974, GHSA-jxfg-w2gp-7257

## What is CVE-2017-10974?

CVE-2017-10974 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Jul 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Yaws 1.91 allows Unauthenticated Remote File Disclosure via HTTP Directory Traversal with /%5C../ to port 8080. NOTE: this CVE is only about use of an initial /%5C sequence to defeat traversal protection mechanisms; the initial /%5C sequence was apparently not discussed in earlier research on this product.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-10974?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Yaws Yaws.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-10974?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-10974 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-10974 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Yaws 1.91 - Remote File Disclosure (exploitdb)
- Yaws 1.91 - Local File Inclusion (nuclei): http/cves/2017/CVE-2017-10974.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2020-12872](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12872/): Weak cryptography in n/a (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2010-4181](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4181/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2009-4495](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4495/): Command injection in n/a (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2009-0751](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0751/): Denial of service in n/a (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2011-5025](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-5025/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-10974 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-10974 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Jul 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-10974 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2017-10974/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10974/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-10974
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-10974
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-10974

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10974/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.