# CVE-2017-16590: Auth bypass in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager via flawed servlet filtering, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hf24-m986-wx2w

## What is CVE-2017-16590?

CVE-2017-16590 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager, published on 23 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass authentication on vulnerable installations of NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager 7.2.699 build 1001. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the MainFilter servlet. The issue results from the lack of proper string matching inside the doFilter method. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of Administrator. Was ZDI-CAN-5099.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication), CWE-289 (Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-16590?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netgain-Systems Enterprise Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-16590?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-16590 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-16590 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16590 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager

- [CVE-2017-16597](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16597/): Path traversal in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-16608](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16608/): Command injection in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-16610](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16610/): Path traversal in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-17406](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17406/): Deserialization in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-17407](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17407/): Command injection in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-16590 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-16590 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager, published on 23 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16590 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager. 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-2017-16590/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16590/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16590
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16590
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-16590

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16590/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.