---
title: "CVE-2017-17440\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-17440?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-17440

Publication date 6 December 2017

Last updated 26 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**6.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-17440?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

GNU Libextractor 1.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service
(NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted GIF, IT
(Impulse Tracker), NSFE, S3M (Scream Tracker 3), SID, or XM (eXtended
Module) file, as demonstrated by the EXTRACTOR\_xm\_extract\_method function
in plugins/xm\_extractor.c.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

It was discovered tha Libextractor incorrectly handled certain files. An
attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| libextractor | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not affected |
| 25.10 questing | Not affected |
| 25.04 plucky | Not affected |
| 24.10 oracular | Not affected |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not affected |
| 23.10 mantic | Not affected |
| 23.04 lunar | Not affected |
| 22.10 kinetic | Not affected |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 20.10 groovy | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Not affected |
| 19.04 disco | Not affected |
| 18.10 cosmic | Not affected |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 17.10 artful | Ignored end of life |
| 17.04 zesty | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1:1.3-4+deb9u3build0.16.04.1 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Vulnerable |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-17440?format=md#patch-details)

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| libextractor | * Other:   [?id=7cc](https://gnunet.org/git/libextractor.git/commit/?id=7cc63b001ceaf81143795321379c835486d0c92e) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

6.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | None |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 6.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-17440)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17440)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-17440)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-17440)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-4641-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-4641-1)
+ libextractor vulnerabilities
+ 23 November 2020

### Other references

* <https://bugs.debian.org/883528#35>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-libextractor/2017-11/msg00000.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-libextractor/2017-11/msg00001.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-libextractor/2017-11/msg00002.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-libextractor/2017-11/msg00004.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-libextractor/2017-11/msg00005.html>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-17440>