# CVE-2017-5897: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can trigger an out-of-bounds access in the Linux kernel IPv6 GRE module, potentially causing denial of service or code execution.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 23 Mar 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-5897, GHSA-9v6g-jchr-3755, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-5897

## What is CVE-2017-5897?

CVE-2017-5897 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 23 Mar 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The ip6gre_err function in net/ipv6/ip6_gre.c in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via vectors involving GRE flags in an IPv6 packet, which trigger an out-of-bounds access.

Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-5897?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-5897?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2017-5897 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-5897 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-5897 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-5897 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 23 Mar 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-2017-5897 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu 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-2017-5897/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5897/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5897
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5897
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-5897

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5897/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.