# CVE-2017-9788: Information disclosure in Apache HTTP Server

> Attackers can leak confidential memory data or cause denial of service via malformed Digest Authorization headers in Apache HTTP Server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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:** 13 Jul 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-9788, DLA-1028-1, DSA-3913-1, GHSA-w97h-p5ff-7q69, SUSE-SU-2017:1961-1, SUSE-SU-2017:1997-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-9788, USN-3370-1

## What is CVE-2017-9788?

CVE-2017-9788 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 13 Jul 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Apache httpd before 2.2.34 and 2.4.x before 2.4.27, the value placeholder in [Proxy-]Authorization headers of type 'Digest' was not initialized or reset before or between successive key=value assignments by mod_auth_digest. Providing an initial key with no '=' assignment could reflect the stale value of uninitialized pool memory used by the prior request, leading to leakage of potentially confidential information, and a segfault in other cases resulting in denial of service.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-9788?

It affects 15 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.2.34-70.5.1 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.2.34-70.5.1 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.2.34-70.5.1 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.4.23-29.3.2 |
| `apache2` | SUSE:Studio Onsite 1.3 | All versions | 2.2.34-70.5.1 |

Products: Apache Http Server, Apple Mac Os X, Debian Debian Linux, Netapp Oncommand Unified Manager, Netapp Storage Automation Store, Oracle Secure Global Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Redhat Jboss Core Services, Redhat Jboss Enterprise Application Platform, Redhat Jboss Enterprise Web Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-9788?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-9788 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-9788 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Http Server

- [CVE-2021-42013](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42013/): Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-38475](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38475/): Apache HTTP Server Improper Escaping of Output (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-40438](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40438/): Apache HTTP Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-0211](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0211/): Apache HTTP Server Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-41773](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41773/): Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-9788 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-9788 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 13 Jul 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-2017-9788 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache Http Server. 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-2017-9788/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9788/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9788
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9788
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-9788

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9788/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.