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CVE-2017-16544: BusyBox autocomplete can run terminal escape codes

CVE-2017-16544 · published 8 years ago

Summary

The tab‑completion feature in BusyBox (up to version 1.27.2) can display file names without cleaning them first. If a file name contains special terminal commands, those commands may be executed when shown, potentially allowing an attacker to run code or change files. Update BusyBox to a newer version or disable the autocomplete feature until the fix is applied.

What to do

The CVE record does not list a fixed version. Check the vendor's site or the advisory links below - a fix may already be released.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
busybox	busybox	<= 1.27.2 `cpe:2.3:a:busybox:busybox::::::::`
debian	debian_linux	8.0 9.0 `cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:::::::*`
vmware	esxi	6.0 6.5 6.7 `cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:6.0:::::::*`
redlion	n-tron_702-w_firmware	All versions `cpe:2.3:o:redlion:n-tron_702-w_firmware::::::::`
redlion	n-tron_702m12-w_firmware	All versions `cpe:2.3:o:redlion:n-tron_702m12-w_firmware::::::::`
canonical	ubuntu_linux	14.04 16.04 `cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04::::lts:::`

Original advisory text

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.

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-G... Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154536/VMware-Security-Advisory-2019-0013.h... Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167552/Nexans-FTTO-GigaSwitch-Outdated-Comp... Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/20 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/15 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Sep/6 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Aug/21 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jan/39 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jun/36 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0013.html Third Party Advisory
https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=c3797d40a1c57352192c6106cc0f435e7d9c1... Patch Vendor Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3935-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00037.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00020.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jun/14 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7 Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-240-01 Third Party Advisory US Government Resource
https://www.twistlock.com/2017/11/20/cve-2017-16544-busybox-autocompletion-vulne... Third Party Advisory

Fix within

Internet-facing 14 days

Internal At next upgrade

Not known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit
Gives an attacker full control

Severity

8.8 High

Exploitation

6% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-94Code Injection

Timeline

Published20 Nov 2017

Updated22 Oct 2026

First seen29 Sep 2026

Sources

CVE-2017-16544 · NVD

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