# CVE-2017-12636: Command injection in Apache CouchDB

> Administrative users can execute arbitrary shell commands via HTTP configuration options, allowing code execution as the CouchDB user.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Nov 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fcpq-cj4x-h8mv, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-12636

## What is CVE-2017-12636?

CVE-2017-12636 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apache CouchDB, published on 14 Nov 2017. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

CouchDB administrative users can configure the database server via HTTP(S). Some of the configuration options include paths for operating system-level binaries that are subsequently launched by CouchDB. This allows an admin user in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to execute arbitrary shell commands as the CouchDB user, including downloading and executing scripts from the public internet.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-12636?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apache Couchdb.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12636?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-12636 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-12636 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2017-12636|exploit Couchdb  (github_poc): https://github.com/XTeam-Wing/CVE-2017-12636
- https://github.com/moayadalmalat/CVE-2017-12636 (github_poc): https://github.com/moayadalmalat/CVE-2017-12636
- Apache CouchDB Arbitrary Command Execution (metasploit)
- Apache CouchDB < 2.1.0 - Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)
- Apache CouchDB - Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Apache CouchDB - Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache CouchDB

- [CVE-2022-24706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24706/): Apache CouchDB Insecure Default Initialization of Resource (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1955](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1955/): Auth bypass in Apache CouchDB (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-12635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12635/): Privilege escalation in Apache CouchDB (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-14889](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14889/): Code injection in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-8742](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8742/): Privilege escalation in Apache CouchDB (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-12636 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-12636 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apache CouchDB, published on 14 Nov 2017. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-12636 exists.

Affected product: Apache CouchDB. 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-2017-12636/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12636/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12636
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12636
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-12636

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12636/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.