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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2017-20229

🗓️ 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com

Unpatched MAWK 1.3.3-17 and earlier has a stack overflow enabling arbitrary code and a shell.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
ATTACKERKB
CVE-2017-20229
28 Mar 202611:58
attackerkb
Circl
CVE-2017-20229
28 Mar 202614:59
circl
CNNVD
mawk 缓冲区错误漏洞
28 Mar 202600:00
cnnvd
CVE
CVE-2017-20229
28 Mar 202611:58
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2017-20229 MAWK 1.3.3-17 Stack-Based Buffer Overflow
28 Mar 202611:58
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2017-20229
28 Mar 202611:58
debiancve
EUVD
EUVD-2017-18951
28 Mar 202612:30
euvd
NVD
CVE-2017-20229
28 Mar 202612:16
nvd
OSV
DEBIAN-CVE-2017-20229
28 Mar 202612:16
osv
OSV
ECHO-138C-59C7-4E66
29 Mar 202608:00
osv
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(304211);
  script_version("1.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/04/06");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2017-20229");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2017-20229");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - MAWK 1.3.3-17 and prior contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to
    execute arbitrary code by exploiting inadequate boundary checks on user-supplied input. Attackers can
    craft malicious input that overflows the stack buffer and execute a return-oriented programming chain to
    spawn a shell with application privileges. (CVE-2017-20229)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-20229");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:P/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2017-20229");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2026/03/28");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2026/03/29");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:mawk");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-14.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mawk"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mawk"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mawk"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_HOLE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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06 Apr 2026 00:00Current
6.7Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.7
CVSS 49.3
CVSS 3.19.8
EPSS0.00104
SSVC
0