CVE-2017-6971
CWE-74Published: March 22, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands in a privileged context, or launch a reverse shell, via vectors involving the PHP session ID and the NfSen PHP code, aka AlienVault ID ENG-104862.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2017-6971 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
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 8.8.
A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2017-6971. 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 (8)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-74)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2017-6971 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts