# CVE-2017-15994: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Remote attackers can bypass intended access restrictions in rsync due to mishandled archaic checksums, affecting file synchronization integrity.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/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:** No
- **Published:** 29 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m83x-3x2c-26q8

## What is CVE-2017-15994?

CVE-2017-15994 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

rsync 3.1.3-development before 2017-10-24 mishandles archaic checksums, which makes it easier for remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions. NOTE: the rsync development branch has significant use beyond the rsync developers, e.g., the code has been copied for use in various GitHub projects.

Weakness: CWE-354 (Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-15994?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Samba Rsync.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-15994?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-15994 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-15994 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-15994 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2026-53791](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53791/): rsync < 3.5.0 Daemon IP Spoofing via PROXY Protocol Header (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-70461](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-70461/): rsync 3.2.5 < 3.5.0 Heap Out-of-Bounds Write via files-from Entry (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-70455](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-70455/): rsync 3.4.2 < 3.5.0 DoS via --zt Zstandard Compression Thread Exhaustion (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2026-70463](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-70463/): rsync 3.1.0 < 3.5.0 Authorization Bypass via auth users Directive Parsing (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2026-53803](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53803/): rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Following Arbitrary File Overwrite (high 8.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-15994 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-15994 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Oct 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-2017-15994 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-2017-15994/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15994/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15994
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15994
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-15994

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15994/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.