HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2017-6451
HIGH

CVE-2017-6451

CWE-787Published: March 27, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4.3.94 does not properly handle the return value of the snprintf function, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds memory write.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2017-6451 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

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

ntp1 product(s)
ntp
Source: NVD CPE · 95 total CPE entries

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

PATCHhttp://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug3378
PATCHhttp://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug3378
ADVISORYhttp://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice#March_2017_ntp_4_2_8p10_NTP_Secu
ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97058
ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038123
ADVISORYhttp://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice#March_2017_ntp_4_2_8p10_NTP_Secu
ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97058
ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038123

All References (14)

→
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug3378Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice#March_2017_ntp_4_2_8p10_NTP_SecuVendor Advisory
→
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97058Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038123Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039427
→
https://support.apple.com/HT208144
→
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03962en_us
→
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug3378Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice#March_2017_ntp_4_2_8p10_NTP_SecuVendor Advisory
→
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97058Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038123Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039427
→
https://support.apple.com/HT208144
→
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03962en_us

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2017-6451
CVSS Score7.8 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-787
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedMar 27, 2017

Related CVEs (CWE-787)

CVE-2026-4746
10.0
CVE-2018-3991
10.0
CVE-2004-1287
10.0
CVE-2026-42369
10.0
CVE-2018-17160
10.0
CVE-2019-6235
10.0

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2017-6451 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.
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