# CVE-2017-5642: Misconfiguration in Apache Ambari

> Improper file permissions during Ambari Server installation allow local attackers to read or modify sensitive artifacts, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

- **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:** 3 Apr 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fr57-qxcv-66p5

## What is CVE-2017-5642?

CVE-2017-5642 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Ambari, published on 3 Apr 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

During installation of Ambari 2.4.0 through 2.4.2, Ambari Server artifacts are not created with proper ACLs.

Weakness: CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-5642?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apache Ambari.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-5642?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-5642 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-5642 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-5642 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Ambari

- [CVE-2014-3582](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3582/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-6807](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6807/): Apache Ambari Improper Access Control (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-51941](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-51941/): Apache Ambari: Remote Code Injection in Ambari Metrics and AMS Alerts (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-23196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-23196/): Apache Ambari: Code Injection Vulnerability in Ambari Alert Definition (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-50379](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-50379/): Apache Ambari: authenticated users could perform command injection to perform RCE (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-5642 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-5642 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Ambari, published on 3 Apr 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-2017-5642 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache Ambari. 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-2017-5642/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5642/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5642
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5642
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-5642

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5642/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.