CVE-2017-5646
Apache Knox allows impersonation of users
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
- Record
CVE-2017-5646- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.9 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-346
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
- Record
CVE-2017-5646- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-14734 No score
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
- Record
EUVD-2017-14734- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv
Apache Knox allows impersonation of users
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
- Record
GHSA-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-346
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
- Record
CVE-2017-5646- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv
Apache Knox allows impersonation of users
For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.
- Record
GHSA-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-346
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-commonMaven |
0.2.0 up to 0.12.0 | 0.12.0 |
org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-commonMaven |
0.2.0 up to 0.12.0, plus listed versions 0.10.00.11.00.6.00.7.00.8.00.9.00.9.1 |
0.12.0 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2017-5646 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.8) in Apache Knox, published May 26, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.75%, the 55th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common 0.12.0.
References
mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/knox-user/201705.mbox/%3CCACRbFyjtT7QQGHUzTRdbJoySbJb7tt4BDk5-r-VRn0GB0Kgvag%40mail.gmail.com%3E
securityfocus.com/bid/98739
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcd6bcbcc08840d4e4bea661efe9a5ef8f6126ebbbc5bc266701d8f48%40%3Cdev.logging.apache.org%3E
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5646
github.com/apache/knox/commit/998dcd257dc839c9651485760da4d614c16e2ca2