# CVE-2017-6952: Capstone Integer overflow

> An integer overflow in Capstone's kernel memory allocator allows attackers to cause a heap-based buffer overflow, leading to denial of service or potential code execution.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Mar 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3v99-hpv7-9hh9, PYSEC-2017-113

## What is CVE-2017-6952?

CVE-2017-6952 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Mar 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Integer overflow in the cs_winkernel_malloc function in winkernel_mm.c in Capstone 3.0.4 and earlier allows attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow in a kernel driver) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a large value.

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-6952?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including capstone. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `capstone` | PyPI | All versions | 3.0.5rc2 |
| `capstone` | PyPI | All versions | 3.0.5rc2 |
| `capstone` | PyPI | All versions | 3.0.5rc2 |

Products: Capstone-Engine Capstone.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-6952?

Upgrade capstone to 3.0.5rc2 or later.

## Is CVE-2017-6952 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-6952 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2016-7151](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7151/): Capstone SEGV caused by a read memory access (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2026-47143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-47143/): Capstone has a NULL Pointer Dereference with 3DNow! opcodes (medium 5.1)
- [CVE-2025-67873](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-67873/): Capstone doesn't check Skipdata length, leading to cs_insn.bytes heap buffer overflow (medium 4.8)
- [CVE-2025-68114](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-68114/): Capstone doesn't check vsnprintf return in SStream_concat, allows stack buffer underflow and overflow (medium 4.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-6952 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-6952 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Mar 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-6952 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- capstone (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.5rc2
- capstone (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.5rc2
- capstone (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.5rc2

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-2017-6952/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6952/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-6952
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-6952
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-6952

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6952/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.