# CVE-2017-8895: Use after free in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can trigger a use-after-free in Veritas Backup Exec agents to execute code or cause denial of service.

- **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:** 10 May 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-65x9-x5m2-cp2g

## What is CVE-2017-8895?

CVE-2017-8895 is a critical use after free vulnerability in n/a, published on 10 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Veritas Backup Exec 2014 before build 14.1.1187.1126, 15 before build 14.2.1180.3160, and 16 before FP1, there is a use-after-free vulnerability in multiple agents that can lead to a denial of service or remote code execution. An unauthenticated attacker can use this vulnerability to crash the agent or potentially take control of the agent process and then the system it is running on.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-8895?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Veritas Backup Exec.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-8895?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-8895 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-8895 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-8895 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Veritas/Symantec Backup Exec SSL NDMP Connection Use-After-Free (metasploit)
- Veritas/Symantec Backup Exec - SSL NDMP Connection Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-27878](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27878/): Veritas Backup Exec Agent Command Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-27877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27877/): Veritas Backup Exec Agent Improper Authentication (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-27876](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27876/): Veritas Backup Exec Agent File Access (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-36167](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36167/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2024-33673](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-33673/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-8895 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-8895 is a critical use after free vulnerability in n/a, published on 10 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-8895 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2017-8895/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8895/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-8895
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8895
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-8895

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8895/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.