# CVE-2017-16941: File upload in n/a

> Authenticated users can upload malicious theme archives containing PHP files and .htaccess to execute arbitrary code, though the vendor disputes this threat model.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/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:** No
- **Published:** 25 Nov 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qhc2-3cg3-6xhg

## What is CVE-2017-16941?

CVE-2017-16941 is a high-severity vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 25 Nov 2017. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

October CMS through 1.0.428 does not prevent use of .htaccess in themes, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary PHP code by downloading a theme ZIP archive from /backend/cms/themes, and then uploading and importing a modified archive with two new files: a .php file and a .htaccess file. NOTE: the vendor says "I don't think [an attacker able to login to the system under an account that has access to manage/upload themes] is a threat model that we need to be considering.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-16941?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Octobercms October.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-16941?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-16941 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-16941 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16941 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Octobercms October

- [CVE-2021-32648](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32648/): October CMS Improper Authentication (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-3311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3311/): October CMS Session ID not invalidated after logout (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000194](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000194/): October CMS File Upload Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000196/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000197/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-16941 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-16941 is a high-severity vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 25 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-2017-16941 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Octobercms October. 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-2017-16941/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16941/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16941
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16941
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-16941

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16941/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.