CVE-2017-9798

Apache httpd allows remote attackers to read secret data from process memory if the Limit directive can be set in a user's .htaccess file, or if httpd.conf has certain misconfigurations, aka Optionsbleed. This affects the Apache HTTP Server through 2.2.34 and 2.4.x through 2.4.27. The attacker sends an unauthenticated OPTIONS HTTP request when attempting to read secret data. This is a use-after-free issue and thus secret data is not always sent, and the specific data depends on many factors including configuration. Exploitation with .htaccess can be blocked with a patch to the ap_limit_section function in server/core.c.

CVSS v3.1

7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS v2.0

5.0 MEDIUMAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

EPSS

95.00% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, 100th percentile

Published

2017-09-18

Updated

2025-11-04

Proof-of-concept exploits (3)

• https://blog.fuzzing-project.org/60-Optionsbleed-HTTP-OPTIONS-method-can-leak-Apaches-ser…
• l0n3rs/CVE-2017-97980★ · 2017-09-24
• nitrado/CVE-2017-97983★ · 2017-09-18

Metasploit modules (1)

• rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/http/apache_optionsblee…

ExploitDB entries (1)

• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42745

References

• CVE Record
• NVD entry

Related

• CVE-2017-8759
• CVE-2021-25641
• CVE-2017-9791
• CVE-2017-9805
• CVE-2017-9781
• CVE-2017-9810