Code Injection in Vmware Esxi (CVE-2017-16544)
Summary
Code injection in Vmware Esxi (CVE-2017-16544). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the add_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used to get a list of filenames in a directory, does not sanitize filenames and results in executing any escape sequence in the terminal. This could potentially result in code execution, arbitrary file writes, or other attacks.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
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-2017-16544 has been found in Vmware Esxi.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 8.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Vmware Esxi CVE-2017-16544" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2017-16544 (Vmware Esxi) — CWE-94 / CVSS v3 8.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / no user interaction
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.
Arbitrary code execution (CWE-94) exists in Vmware Esxi.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Vmware Esxi.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'Esxi' . 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
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'Esxi' . | 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
Esxiを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Post-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。
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Alpine Linux ALPINE-CVE-2017-16544 busybox Fixed in: 1.27.2-r4
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2017-16544 busybox Fixed in: 1:1.27.2-2
References
- advisory vmware.com
- advisory lists.debian.org
- advisory lists.debian.org
- advisory us-cert.cisa.gov
- advisory usn.ubuntu.com
- advisory twistlock.com
- patch git.busybox.net
- report packetstormsecurity.com
- report packetstormsecurity.com
- report packetstormsecurity.com
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org
- report seclists.org