---
title: "CVE-2017-9798\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-2017-9798?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-9798

Publication date 18 September 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-9798?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

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.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| apache2 | 17.10 artful | Fixed 2.4.27-2ubuntu3 |
| 17.04 zesty | Fixed 2.4.25-3ubuntu2.3 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 2.4.18-2ubuntu3.5 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.4.7-1ubuntu4.18 |

---

* [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-2017-9798?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 |
| --- | --- |
| apache2 | * Upstream:   <https://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1807754> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-9798)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9798)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-9798)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-9798)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3425-2](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3425-2)
+ Apache HTTP Server vulnerability
+ 24 October 2017

+ [USN-3425-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3425-1)
+ Apache HTTP Server vulnerability
+ 19 September 2017

### Other references

* <https://blog.fuzzing-project.org/60-Optionsbleed-HTTP-OPTIONS-method-can-leak-Apaches-server-memory.html>
* <https://github.com/hannob/optionsbleed>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9798>