CVE-2017-16642
CWE-125Published: November 7, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
In PHP before 5.6.32, 7.x before 7.0.25, and 7.1.x before 7.1.11, an error in the date extension's timelib_meridian handling of 'front of' and 'back of' directives could be used by attackers able to supply date strings to leak information from the interpreter, related to ext/date/lib/parse_date.c out-of-bounds reads affecting the php_parse_date function. NOTE: this is a different issue than CVE-2017-11145.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2017-16642 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 complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2017-16642. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (26)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-125)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2017-16642 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts