# CVE-2017-16720: Path traversal in Advantech WebAccess

> An attacker can access files within the directory structure of Advantech WebAccess devices via a path traversal vulnerability.

- **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:** 5 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fh38-p8hv-hjcv

## What is CVE-2017-16720?

CVE-2017-16720 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Advantech Webaccess, published on 5 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Path Traversal issue was discovered in WebAccess versions 8.3.2 and earlier. An attacker has access to files within the directory structure of the target device.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-16720?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Advantech Webaccess.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-16720?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-16720 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-16720 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-16720 exists.

Public exploit code:

- WebAccess远程命令执行漏洞(CVE-2017-16720)复现 (github_poc): https://github.com/CN016/WebAccess-CVE-2017-16720-
- Advantech WebAccess < 8.3 - Directory Traversal / Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Advantech Webaccess

- [CVE-2014-9208](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9208/): Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in unspecified DLL files in Advantech WebAccess before 8.0.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitra (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-33023](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33023/): Advantech WebAccess (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38389](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38389/): Advantech WebAccess (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38408](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38408/): Memory corruption in Advantech WebAccess (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-12019](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12019/): Memory corruption in WebAccess Node (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-16720 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-16720 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Advantech Webaccess, published on 5 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-16720 exists.

Affected product: Advantech Webaccess. 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-2017-16720/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16720/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16720
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16720
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-16720

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16720/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.