# CVE-2017-9078: Use after free in n/a

> A double free vulnerability in Dropbear SSH server allows post-authentication root remote code execution when the -a option is enabled.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 May 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2017-9078, DEBIAN-CVE-2017-9078, GHSA-p8gj-w7rh-3g6f, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-9078

## What is CVE-2017-9078?

CVE-2017-9078 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 May 2017. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The server in Dropbear before 2017.75 might allow post-authentication root remote code execution because of a double free in cleanup of TCP listeners when the -a option is enabled.

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-9078?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Dropbear Ssh Project Dropbear Ssh, Netapp H410c Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-9078?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-9078 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-9078 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-9078 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-9078 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 May 2017. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-9078 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-2017-9078/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9078/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9078
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9078
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-9078

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9078/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.