# CVE-2017-16544: Code injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code or write files via unsanitized terminal escape sequences in BusyBox shell tab autocomplete.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Nov 2017
- **Updated:** 9 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2017-16544, DEBIAN-CVE-2017-16544, GHSA-234c-568r-p7m4, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-16544

## What is CVE-2017-16544?

CVE-2017-16544 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 20 Nov 2017. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the add_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used to get a list of filenames in a directory, does not sanitize filenames and results in executing any escape sequence in the terminal. This could potentially result in code execution, arbitrary file writes, or other attacks.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-16544?

It affects 6 products.


Products: Busybox Busybox, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Redlion N-Tron 702-W Firmware, Redlion N-Tron 702m12-W Firmware, Vmware Esxi.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-16544?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-16544 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16544 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2022-48174](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-48174/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-42377](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42377/): Memory corruption in busybox (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-2148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2148/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-28391](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28391/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-1000517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1000517/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-16544 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-16544 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 20 Nov 2017. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16544 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. 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-2017-16544/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16544/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16544
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16544
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-16544

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16544/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.