# CVE-2017-5635: Improper Authentication In Apache NiFi

> In clustered Apache NiFi, anonymous requests may incorrectly inherit the originating node's identity, allowing unauthorized access or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jgj9-6v78-6g8m

## What is CVE-2017-5635?

CVE-2017-5635 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Nifi, published on 19 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Apache NiFi before 0.7.2 and 1.x before 1.1.2 in a cluster environment, if an anonymous user request is replicated to another node, the originating node identity is used rather than the "anonymous" user.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-5635?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.nifi:nifi. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.nifi:nifi` | Maven | All versions | 0.7.2 |
| `org.apache.nifi:nifi` | Maven | All versions | 0.7.2 |
| `org.apache.nifi:nifi` | Maven | From 1.0.0 | 1.1.2 |
| `org.apache.nifi:nifi` | Maven | From 1.0.0 | 1.1.2 |

Products: Apache Nifi.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-5635?

Upgrade org.apache.nifi:nifi to a fixed version for your release line: 0.7.2 or 1.1.2.

## Is CVE-2017-5635 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-5635 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Nifi

- [CVE-2018-1309](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1309/): Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache NiFi (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-15697](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15697/): Apache NiFi XSS issue in context path handling (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-5636](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5636/): Injection in Apache NiFi (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-68981](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68981/): Apache NiFi: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption through Decompression of HTTP Requests (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-36542](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36542/): Apache NiFi: Potential Code Injection with Properties Referencing Remote Resources (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-5635 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-5635 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Nifi, published on 19 Oct 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-2017-5635 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.nifi:nifi (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 0.7.2
- org.apache.nifi:nifi (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 0.7.2
- org.apache.nifi:nifi (Maven): affected from 1.0.0; fixed in 1.1.2
- org.apache.nifi:nifi (Maven): affected from 1.0.0; fixed in 1.1.2

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-2017-5635/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5635/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5635
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5635
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-5635

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5635/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.