# CVE-2017-17522: Command injection in n/a

> Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary commands via argument injection in the webbrowser module if the BROWSER environment variable is manipulated, though exploitation is disputed.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Dec 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** AZL-109617, AZL-6823, DEBIAN-CVE-2017-17522, GHSA-3qjm-23v2-9v26

## What is CVE-2017-17522?

CVE-2017-17522 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Python Python, published on 14 Dec 2017. 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

Lib/webbrowser.py in Python through 3.6.3 does not validate strings before launching the program specified by the BROWSER environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to conduct argument-injection attacks via a crafted URL. NOTE: a software maintainer indicates that exploitation is impossible because the code relies on subprocess.Popen and the default shell=False setting

Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-17522?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Python Python.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-17522?

No fix published yet.

## Is CVE-2017-17522 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-17522 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Python Python

- [CVE-2008-5031](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5031/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-4650](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4650/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-5636](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5636/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2007-4559](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-4559/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-15308](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-15308/): Incremental HTMLParser feed() allows CPU-exhaustion DoS via repeated unterminated markup declarations (high 8.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-17522 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-17522 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Python Python, published on 14 Dec 2017. 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-2017-17522 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Python Python. 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-2017-17522/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17522/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-17522
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17522
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-17522

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17522/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.