CVE-2017-12635

What it is

Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to submit _users documents with duplicate keys for 'roles' used for access control within the database, including the special case '_admin' role, that denotes administrative users. In combination with CVE-2017-12636 (Remote Code Execution), this can be used to give non-admin users access to arbitrary shell commands on the server as the database system user. The JSON parser differences result in behaviour that if two 'roles' keys are available in the JSON, the second one will be used for authorising the document write, but the first 'roles' key is used for subsequent authorization for the newly created user. By design, users can not assign themselves roles. The vulnerability allows non-admin users to give themselves admin privileges.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

99.8% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS). Higher than most.

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2017-08-07 00:00 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2. 2017-11-14 20:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
3. 2026-06-17 01:03 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 99.8% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 9.8 CRITICAL (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.
• It meets the bar for Drop everything: critical, and exploited or very likely to be.

Details

Published

2017-11-14 20:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 01:03 UTC

Exploit probability

99.8% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-269 · Improper privilege management

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Apache Couchdb < 1.7.0
• Apache Couchdb 2.0.0

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 9.8

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2017-12635.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2017-12635. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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