# CVE-2017-17672: Deserialization in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can exploit unsafe deserialization in vBulletin to delete arbitrary files or execute code via the template cache API.

- **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:** 14 Dec 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fxrf-cmv6-rm5j

## What is CVE-2017-17672?

CVE-2017-17672 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Vbulletin Vbulletin, published on 14 Dec 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In vBulletin through 5.3.x, there is an unauthenticated deserialization vulnerability that leads to arbitrary file deletion and, under certain circumstances, code execution, because of unsafe usage of PHP's unserialize() in vB_Library_Template's cacheTemplates() function, which is a publicly exposed API. This is exploited with the templateidlist parameter to ajax/api/template/cacheTemplates.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-17672?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vbulletin Vbulletin.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-17672?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-17672 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-17672 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-17672 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- vBulletin 5.x - 'cacheTemplates' Remote Arbitrary File Deletion (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Vbulletin Vbulletin

- [CVE-2020-17496](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17496/): vBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16759](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16759/): vBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48827](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48827/): vBulletin 5.0.0 through 5.7.5 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.3 allows unauthenticated users to invoke protected API controllers' methods when running (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-25135](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25135/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-7373](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7373/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-17672 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-17672 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Vbulletin Vbulletin, published on 14 Dec 2017. 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-2017-17672 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Vbulletin Vbulletin. 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-2017-17672/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17672/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-17672
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17672
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-17672

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17672/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.