# CVE-2017-9797: Apache Geode vulnerable to Exposure of Sensitive Information

> Unauthenticated clients in secure mode can leak application data type information and cause denial of service in Apache Geode clusters.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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:** 2 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vh98-fqfc-4hj3

## What is CVE-2017-9797?

CVE-2017-9797 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Geode, published on 2 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

When an Apache Geode cluster before v1.2.1 is operating in secure mode, an unauthenticated client can enter multi-user authentication mode and send metadata messages. These metadata operations could leak information about application data types. In addition, an attacker could perform a denial of service attack on the cluster.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-9797?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.geode:geode-core. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.geode:geode-core` | Maven | From 1.0.0 | 1.2.1 |
| `org.apache.geode:geode-core` | Maven | From 1.0.0 | 1.2.1 |

Products: Apache Geode.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-9797?

Upgrade org.apache.geode:geode-core to 1.2.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2017-9797 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-9797 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Geode

- [CVE-2020-1938](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1938/): Apache Tomcat Improper Privilege Management (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-15752](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15752/): Docker Desktop Community Edition Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-37021](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-37021/): Apache Geode deserialization of untrusted data flaw when using JMX over RMI on Java 8. (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-0048](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0048/): Supply chain in docker.io (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-15692](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15692/): Apache Geode unsafe deserialization in TcpServer (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-9797 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-9797 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Geode, published on 2 Oct 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-2017-9797 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.geode:geode-core (Maven): affected from 1.0.0; fixed in 1.2.1
- org.apache.geode:geode-core (Maven): affected from 1.0.0; fixed in 1.2.1

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-2017-9797/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9797/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9797
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9797
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-9797

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9797/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.