HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2017-5938
MEDIUM

CVE-2017-5938

CWE-79Published: March 15, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

6.1
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the nav_path function in lib/viewvc.py in ViewVC before 1.0.14 and 1.1.x before 1.1.26 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the nav_data name.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2017-5938 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-79): Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionRequired
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityLow
IntegrityLow
AvailabilityNone
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Affected Vendors & Products

Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
openSUSE1 product(s)
leap
opensuse_project1 product(s)
leap
viewvc1 product(s)
viewvc
Source: NVD CPE · 4 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

All References (16)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2017-5938
CVSS Score6.1 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-79
CISA KEVNo
Affected4 vendor(s)
PublishedMar 15, 2017

Related CVEs (CWE-79)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2017-5938 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.