# CVE-2018-17191: Code injection in Apache NetBeans

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via malicious Proxy Auto-Configuration scripts due to insecure JavaScript engine configuration in Apache NetBeans.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-17191, GHSA-6wvp-4wg2-g6m4, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-17191

## What is CVE-2018-17191?

CVE-2018-17191 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apache NetBeans, published on 31 Dec 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Apache NetBeans (incubating) 9.0 NetBeans Proxy Auto-Configuration (PAC) interpretation is vulnerable for remote command execution (RCE). Using the nashorn script engine the environment of the javascript execution for the Proxy Auto-Configuration leaks privileged objects, that can be used to circumvent the execution limits. If a different script engine was used, no execution limits were in place. Both vectors allow remote code execution.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-17191?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apache Netbeans.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-17191?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-17191 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17191 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache NetBeans

- [CVE-2020-11986](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11986/): Code injection in Apache NetBeans (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-17560](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17560/): Improper Certificate Validation in Apache Netbeans (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2019-17561](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17561/): Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature in Apache Netbeans (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-17191 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-17191 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apache NetBeans, published on 31 Dec 2018. 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-2018-17191 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache NetBeans. 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-2018-17191/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17191/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17191
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17191
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-17191

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17191/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.