CVE Tools
Sign in

CVE-2017-16355

Published: Dec 14, 2017Updated: May 13, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVD GHSA BDUCWE-200
NVD MITRE
4.7CVSSMEDIUM
EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 72.5%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
1 Known
Remediation
Patch Available

Description

In agent/Core/SpawningKit/Spawner.h in Phusion Passenger 5.1.10 (fixed in Passenger Open Source 5.1.11 and Passenger Enterprise 5.1.10), if Passenger is running as root, it is possible to list the contents of arbitrary files on a system by symlinking a file named REVISION from the application root folder to a file of choice and querying passenger-status --show=xml.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:HPR:LUI:NS:UC:HI:NA:N
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:HAttack Complexity
High
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:NIntegrity
None
A:NAvailability
None
Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-200

Affected Products

n/an/a
passengerRubyGemsOSS Libraries
Debian GNU/LinuxСообщество свободного программного обеспечения
On-premOS
Operating Systems / linux-distro
Phusion PassengerPhusion B.V.
On-prem
Web & CMS Plugins / cms-core
passengerphusion
On-prem
OSS Libraries / web-framework
rubygemspackage-ecosystemOSS Libraries
сообщество свободного программного обеспеченияoss-projectOperating Systemsaka сообщество свободного программного обеспечения, fsf
phusion b.v.commercialNLWeb & CMS Pluginsaka phusion
phusioncommercialOSS Librariesaka passenger, juvia
and 1 more affected products View all →

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes to view MITRE ATT&CK details. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan.

Exploitability

1 exploit source identified

Exploit details including PoC links, Metasploit modules, and scanner templates are available after registration.

View exploit details
Official Patch Available

MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique
Collection
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://blog.phusion.nl/2017/10/13/passenger-security-advisory-5-1-11/
blog.phusion.nl
https://github.com/phusion/passenger/commit/4043718264095cde6623c2cbe8c644541036d7bf
github.com
https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4415
debian.org
and 6 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
Dec 14, 2017
Last Updated
May 13, 2026

Unlock Complete Vulnerability Intelligence

Get the full picture for CVE-2017-16355 and every CVE in our database. Create a free account — no credit card required.

Create Free Account
Plain-language analysis
Impact assessment and exploitation scenario in plain English
Attack graph visualization
Interactive attack path and kill chain mapping
Exploit details & PoC links
ExploitDB, Metasploit, GitHub PoCs with direct links
Nuclei scanner templates
Ready-to-use vulnerability scanner templates
Full remediation guide
Patch instructions, workarounds, and compliance impact
Interactive AI chat
Ask questions about this vulnerability in natural language
Related vulnerabilities
Semantically similar CVEs and attack patterns
REST API & MCP access
Integrate vulnerability data into your workflows