CVE-2017-20228
CWE-787Published: March 28, 2026· Updated: Apr 2, 2026
Official Description
Flat Assembler 1.71.21 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying oversized input to the application. Attackers can craft malicious assembly input exceeding 5895 bytes to overwrite the instruction pointer and execute return-oriented programming chains for shell command execution.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2017-20228 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.
From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-787): Out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities can lead to data corruption, crashes, or arbitrary code execution.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (3)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-787)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2017-20228 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts