CVE-2016-5017
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when...
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.1
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
CVE-2016-5017- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
CVE-2016-5017- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2016-5972 No score
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
EUVD-2016-5972- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-85r2-fvq8-6xw9
8.1
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when...
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
GHSA-85r2-fvq8-6xw9- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.1
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
CVE-2016-5017- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-5017
8.1
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2016-5017- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-5017
8.1
Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax, allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a long command string.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-5017- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2016-0328 No score
Updated zookeeper packages fix security vulnerability
Lyon Yang discovered that the C client shells cli_st and cli_mt of Apache Zookeeper were affected by a buffer overflow vulnerability associated with parsing of the input command when using the "cmd:" batch mode syntax. If the command string exceeds 1024 characters a buffer overflow will occur (CVE-2016-5017).
- Record
MGASA-2016-0328- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4789-1 No score
zookeeper vulnerabilities
It was discovered that Apache ZooKeeper incorrectly handled certain inputs. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or other unspecified impact. (CVE-2016-5017)
It was discovered that Apache ZooKeeper incorrectly implemented "wchp/wchc" commands. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2017-5637)
It was discovered that Apache Zookeeper incorrectly handled clusters. An attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive information. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 ESM. (CVE-2018-8012)
- Record
USN-4789-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
zookeeperDebian:12 |
before 3.4.9-1 | 3.4.9-1 |
zookeeperDebian:13 |
before 3.4.9-1 | 3.4.9-1 |
zookeeperDebian:14 |
before 3.4.9-1 | 3.4.9-1 |
zookeeperDebian:7 |
before 3.3.5+dfsg1-2+deb7u1, plus listed versions 3.3.5+dfsg1-2 |
3.3.5+dfsg1-2+deb7u1 |
zookeeperMageia:5 |
before 3.4.5-25.1.mga5 | 3.4.5-25.1.mga5 |
zookeeperUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
before 3.4.5+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 3.4.5+dfsg-1 |
3.4.5+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
zookeeperUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
before 3.4.8-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 3.4.6-83.4.7-13.4.8-1 |
3.4.8-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
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-2016-5017 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Apache Zookeeper, published September 18, 2016. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 6.79%, the 94th percentile. Fixed in zookeeper 3.4.9-1.
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/17/3
securityfocus.com/bid/93044
lists.apache.org/thread.html/053d9ce4d579b02203db18545fee5e33f35f2932885459b74d1e4272%40%3Cissues.activemq.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/bcce5a9c532b386c68dab2f6b3ce8b0cc9b950ec551766e76391caa3%40%3Ccommits.nifi.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rca37935d661f4689cb4119f1b3b224413b22be161b678e6e6ce0c69b%40%3Ccommits.nifi.apache.org%3E
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html
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cloudera.com/documentation/other/security-bulletins/topics/csb_topic_1.html
git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf?p=zookeeper.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=27ecf981a15554dc8e64a28630af7a5c9e2bdf4f
zookeeper.apache.org/security.html
packetstormsecurity.com/files/138755/ZooKeeper-3.4.8-3.5.2-Buffer-Overflow.html
git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf?p=zookeeper.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=f09154d6648eeb4ec5e1ac8a2bacbd2f8c87c14a
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4b743f407244294f316325458ccaabfce9cd70ca3a6423dbe574035c%40%3Cnotifications.dubbo.apache.org%3E
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5017
git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf?p=zookeeper.git;a=commitdiff;h=27ecf981a15554dc8e64a28630af7a5c9e2bdf4f
git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf?p=zookeeper.git;a=commitdiff;h=f09154d6648eeb4ec5e1ac8a2bacbd2f8c87c14a
lists.apache.org/thread.html/053d9ce4d579b02203db18545fee5e33f35f2932885459b74d1e4272@%3Cissues.activemq.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/bcce5a9c532b386c68dab2f6b3ce8b0cc9b950ec551766e76391caa3@%3Ccommits.nifi.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4b743f407244294f316325458ccaabfce9cd70ca3a6423dbe574035c@%3Cnotifications.dubbo.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rca37935d661f4689cb4119f1b3b224413b22be161b678e6e6ce0c69b@%3Ccommits.nifi.apache.org%3E
github.com/advisories/GHSA-85r2-fvq8-6xw9
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-5017
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2016-0328.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=19419
lwn.net/Alerts/701123
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5017
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5017
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4789-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-5637
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-8012