# CVE-2017-15056: Null dereference in n/a

> A crafted binary file can cause a denial of service via invalid pointer read in UPX, affecting users processing untrusted executables.

- **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:** 6 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-15056, GHSA-hjmv-hqm5-66xp, MGASA-2017-0389, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-15056

## What is CVE-2017-15056?

CVE-2017-15056 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 6 Oct 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

p_lx_elf.cpp in UPX 3.94 mishandles ELF headers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted binary file, as demonstrated by an Invalid Pointer Read in PackLinuxElf64::unpack().

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-15056?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Upx Upx.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-15056?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-15056 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-15056 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2020-27796](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27796/): Memory corruption in upx (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-27799](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27799/): Memory corruption in upx (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-27800](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27800/): Memory corruption in upx (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-27801](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27801/): Memory corruption in upx (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-14296](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-14296/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-15056 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-15056 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 6 Oct 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-2017-15056 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2017-15056/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15056/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15056
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15056
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-15056

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15056/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.