CVE-2017-12635
Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to...
- Published
- Nov 14, 2017
- Updated
- Sep 17, 2024
- Assigning CNA
- apache
- Evidence observed
- Apr 23, 2018
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 2.0
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:CHigh · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 100.0%
- Model date
- Oct 13, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
Summary
Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to submit _users documents with duplicate keys for 'roles' used for access control within the database, including the special case '_admin' role, that denotes administrative users. In combination with CVE-2017-12636 (Remote Code Execution), this can be used to give non-admin users access to arbitrary shell commands on the server as the database system user. The JSON parser differences result in behaviour that if two 'roles' keys are available in the JSON, the second one will be used for authorising the document write, but the first 'roles' key is used for subsequent authorization for the newly created user. By design, users can not assign themselves roles. The vulnerability allows non-admin users to give themselves admin privileges.
Sources
- CouchDB Enum UtilityModule
modules/auxiliary/scanner/couchdb/couchdb_enum.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- verification: check_declared($.auxiliary_scanner/couchdb/couchdb_enum.check)
http/cves/2017/CVE-2017-12635.yaml
Nuclei TemplatesDeclared conditions
- network: http($.protocol_keys)
- verification: status,word($.matchers[*].type)
couchdb/CVE-2017-12635
Apache Couchdb Remote Privilege Escalation (CVE-2017-12635)
Vulhub vulnerability labsDeclared conditions
- lab image version: vulhub/couchdb:2.1.0(couchdb/CVE-2017-12635/docker-compose.yml:services.couchdb.image)
- lab image version: buildpack-deps:focal-curl(couchdb/CVE-2017-12635/docker-compose.yml:services.initd.image)
modules/exploits/linux/http/apache_couchdb_cmd_exec.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- platform: Linux($.exploit_linux/http/apache_couchdb_cmd_exec.platform)
- verification: check_declared($.exploit_linux/http/apache_couchdb_cmd_exec.check)
Responsible use
Use vulnerability information only on systems you own or are authorized to test. Kitploit links to public research metadata and does not store exploit code or malicious payloads.