# CVE-2017-13715: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause a system crash or execute arbitrary code via a crafted MPLS packet due to uninitialized variables in the Linux kernel flow dissector.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Aug 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-13715, GHSA-x582-23f7-w3cc

## What is CVE-2017-13715?

CVE-2017-13715 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The __skb_flow_dissect function in net/core/flow_dissector.c in the Linux kernel before 4.3 does not ensure that n_proto, ip_proto, and thoff are initialized, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a single crafted MPLS packet.

Weakness: CWE-665 (Improper Initialization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-13715?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-13715?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-13715 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-13715 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-13715 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-13715 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-13715 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. 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-2017-13715/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-13715/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-13715
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-13715
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-13715

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-13715/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.