# CVE-2017-15703: Denial of service via deserialization attack in nifi

> Authenticated users can cause denial of service by uploading malicious templates triggering Java deserialization in Apache NiFi.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xwx6-vmj4-5rv8

## What is CVE-2017-15703?

CVE-2017-15703 is a medium-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache Nifi, published on 25 Jan 2018. 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

Any authenticated user (valid client certificate but without ACL permissions) could upload a template which contained malicious code and caused a denial of service via Java deserialization attack. The fix to properly handle Java deserialization was applied on the Apache NiFi 1.4.0 release. Users running a prior 1.x release should upgrade to the appropriate release.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-15703?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.nifi:nifi-framework-cluster-protocol. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.nifi:nifi-framework-cluster-protocol` | Maven | All versions | 1.5.0 |
| `org.apache.nifi:nifi-framework-cluster-protocol` | Maven | All versions | 1.5.0 |

Products: Apache Nifi.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-15703?

Upgrade org.apache.nifi:nifi-framework-cluster-protocol to 1.5.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2017-15703 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-15703 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Nifi

- [CVE-2018-1309](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1309/): Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache NiFi (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-15697](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15697/): Apache NiFi XSS issue in context path handling (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-5636](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5636/): Injection in Apache NiFi (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-68981](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68981/): Apache NiFi: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption through Decompression of HTTP Requests (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-36542](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36542/): Apache NiFi: Potential Code Injection with Properties Referencing Remote Resources (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-15703 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-15703 is a medium-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache Nifi, published on 25 Jan 2018. 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-2017-15703 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.nifi:nifi-framework-cluster-protocol (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 1.5.0
- org.apache.nifi:nifi-framework-cluster-protocol (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 1.5.0

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-2017-15703/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15703/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15703
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15703
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-15703

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15703/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.