Back
CVE-2017-16544
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…
- 8.8HighCVSS base score
- 6.1%Exploitation in 30 daysEPSS · top 6.5% of all CVEs
- NoKnown exploitednot in CISA's KEV catalog
- NonePublic exploitsnone known yet
Description
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.
Timeline
ID reserved
By mitre
- 15 days later
· 15 days later
Published
- 8 years later
· 8 years later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADPADP (enrichment) | 3.1 | High8.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVDNVD · Modified | 3.1 | High8.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 6.1% · top 6.5% of all CVEs (9 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total
Loading the EPSS history…
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 8.8.
Affected products
n/a
- affected n/a
References
20
- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/11/20/cve-2017-16544-busybox-autocompletion-vulnerability/ (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180727 [SECURITY] [DLA 1445-1] busybox security update (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTx_transferred
- https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=c3797d40a1c57352192c6106cc0f435e7d9c11e8 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- USN-3935-1 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUx_transferred
- 20190612 SEC Consult SA-20190612-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in WAGO 852 Industrial Managed Switch Series (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- 20190613 SEC Consult SA-20190612-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in WAGO 852 Industrial Managed Switch Series (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQx_transferred
- 20190904 SEC Consult SA-20190904-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco router series RV34X, RV26X and RV16X (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- 20190904 SEC Consult SA-20190904-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco router series RV34X, RV26X and RV16X (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQx_transferred
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0013.html (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_CONFIRMx_transferred
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154536/VMware-Security-Advisory-2019-0013.html (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- 20200313 SEC Consult SA-20200312-0 :: Authenticated Command Injection in Phoenix Contact TC Router & TC Cloud Client (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- 20200827 SEC Consult SA-20200827-0 :: Multiple Vulnerabilities in ZTE mobile Hotspot MS910S (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-240-01 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- 20200902 SEC Consult SA-20200902-0 :: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Red Lion N-Tron 702-W, Red Lion N-Tron 702M12-W (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- 20210113 SEC Consult SA-20210113-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Pepperl+Fuchs IO-Link Master Series (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210215 [SECURITY] [DLA 2559-1] busybox security update (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTx_transferred
- 20210819 SEC Consult SA-20210819-0 :: Multiple critical vulnerabilities in Altus Nexto and Hadron series (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- 20220617 SEC Consult SA-20220615-0 :: Hardcoded Backdoor User and Outdated Software Components in Nexans FTTO GigaSwitch series (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISCx_transferred
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167552/Nexans-FTTO-GigaSwitch-Outdated-Components-Hardcoded-Backdoor.html (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- EUVD EUVD-2017-7737 (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2017-16544)Record last updated .