CVE-2017-14491 critical CVSS 9.8

Out-of-Bounds Write in platform/external/dnsmasq (CVE-2017-14491)

Summary

Out-of-bounds write in platform/external/dnsmasq (CVE-2017-14491). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. Mitigation: upgrade to 11:2021-03-01 or later.

Original description

The description as published by the source.

In do_rfc1035_name of util.c, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote code execution when processing a malicious DNS server response with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

Source: OSV.dev (Open Source Vulnerabilities) NVD OSV

Auto-generated summary

Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.

A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2017-14491 has been found in platform/external/dnsmasq.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 9.8/10.
What to do: upgrade platform/external/dnsmasq to 11:2021-03-01 or later.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "platform/external/dnsmasq CVE-2017-14491" on the vendor's site.

CVE-2017-14491 (platform/external/dnsmasq) — CWE-787 / CVSS v3 9.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Patched: 11:2021-03-01 — apply immediately
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.

❓ What is the problem

Out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) exists in platform/external/dnsmasq.

📍 Affected scope

Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of platform/external/dnsmasq.

🔥 Severity

Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.

🔧 How to fix

Update to 11:2021-03-01.

🛡️ Workaround

Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.

🔍 Detection

Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'platform/external/dnsmasq' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.

Response actions

Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order

1
Identify exposure identify
```
grep -r 'platform/external/dnsmasq' . | grep -v node_modules
```
リポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で platform/external/dnsmasq を grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。
2
Apply patch patch
```
Upgrade platform/external/dnsmasq to 11:2021-03-01
```
ステージング環境で 11:2021-03-01 に上げて回帰テスト → 本番反映。回帰テストはアプリの主要ハッピーパスを含めること。
3
Post-deployment verification verify
```
Confirm patched version is live in production
```
パッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。

Affected packages

Android platform/external/dnsmasq

[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"11:0"},{"fixed":"11:2021-03-01"}]}]

Fix status by distribution

Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE

Alpine Linux ALPINE-CVE-2017-14491 dnsmasq Fixed in: 2.78-r0
Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2017-14491 dnsmasq Fixed in: 2.78-1