# CVE-2017-5398: Memory corruption in Firefox

> Memory safety bugs in Thunderbird allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted content, requiring users to upgrade to patched versions.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 11 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-5398, GHSA-x79g-jhh9-8x2f, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-5398

## What is CVE-2017-5398?

CVE-2017-5398 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 11 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Memory safety bugs were reported in Thunderbird 45.7. Some of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with enough effort that some of these could be exploited to run arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 52, Firefox ESR < 45.8, Thunderbird < 52, and Thunderbird < 45.8.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-5398?

It affects 9 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, Mozilla Thunderbird Esr, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-5398?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-5398 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-5398 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-5398 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-5398 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 11 Jun 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-2017-5398 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2017-5398/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5398/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5398
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5398
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-5398

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5398/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.