# CVE-2017-16597: Path traversal in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with Administrator privileges via path traversal in WRQ request processing without authentication.

- **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:** 23 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-whx7-8j7g-ccfq

## What is CVE-2017-16597?

CVE-2017-16597 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager, published on 23 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager 7.2.730 build 1034. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the processing of WRQ requests. When parsing the Filename field, the process does not properly validate a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of Administrator. Was ZDI-CAN-5137.

Weakness: CWE-668 (Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere), CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-16597?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netgain-Systems Enterprise Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-16597?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-16597 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-16597 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16597 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager

- [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)
- [CVE-2017-16590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16590/): Auth bypass in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-16597 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-16597 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager, published on 23 Jan 2018. 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-2017-16597 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-2017-16597/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16597/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16597
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16597
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-16597

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16597/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.