# CVE-2017-6836: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause a denial of service via a crafted file due to a heap-based buffer overflow in the Audio File Library.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Mar 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** AZL-36928, AZL-7179, DEBIAN-CVE-2017-6836, GHSA-2jmf-7qjf-v556, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-6836

## What is CVE-2017-6836?

CVE-2017-6836 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 20 Mar 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the Expand3To4Module::run function in libaudiofile/modules/SimpleModule.h in Audio File Library (aka audiofile) 0.3.6, 0.3.5, 0.3.4, 0.3.3, 0.3.2, 0.3.1, 0.3.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted file.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-6836?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Audiofile Audiofile, Debian Debian Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-6836?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-6836 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-6836 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-7747](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-7747/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-17095](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17095/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2017-6827](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6827/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2017-6828](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6828/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2025-50950](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-50950/): Null dereference in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-6836 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-6836 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 20 Mar 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-6836 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-2017-6836/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6836/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-6836
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-6836
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-6836

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6836/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.