HIGH
CVE-2017-15721
CWE-476Published: October 22, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
7.5
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
In Irssi before 1.0.5, certain incorrectly formatted DCC CTCP messages could cause a NULL pointer dereference. This is a separate, but similar, issue relative to CVE-2017-9468.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2017-15721 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (8)
→
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/10/22/4Mailing List · Mitigation · Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://irssi.org/security/irssi_sa_2017_10.txtMitigation · Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/12/msg00022.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-4016Third Party Advisory
→
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/10/22/4Mailing List · Mitigation · Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://irssi.org/security/irssi_sa_2017_10.txtMitigation · Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/12/msg00022.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-4016Third Party Advisory
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2017-15721
CVSS Score7.5 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-476
CISA KEVNo
Affected2 vendor(s)
PublishedOct 22, 2017
Related CVEs (CWE-476)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2017-15721 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.