CVE-2017-16228: Dulwich before 0.18.5, when an SSH subprocess is used, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands v

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-16228?

dulwich: upgrade to newer than 0.18.4. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-16228 being exploited?

CVE-2017-16228 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2017-16228 affect?

CVE-2017-16228 affects dulwich. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Dulwich before 0.18.5, when an SSH subprocess is used, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via an ssh URL with an initial dash character in the hostname, a related issue to CVE-2017-9800, CVE-2017-12836, CVE-2017-12976, CV

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-16228?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2017-16228 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting dulwich. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Dulwich before 0.18.5, when an SSH subprocess is used, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via an ssh URL with an initial dash character in the hostname, a related issue to CVE-2017-9800, CVE-2017-12836, CVE-2017-12976, CVE-2017-1000116, and CVE-2017-1000117.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	3.7% (top 10%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2017-10-29
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: dulwich project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-10-29 20:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:09 UTCUpdated Record last modified

dulwich project dulwich UPGRADE

Affected: <= 0.18.4

Fixed in: newer than 0.18.4

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy dulwich || rpm -q dulwich || dulwich --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.18.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade dulwich

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade dulwich

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2017-16228?

dulwich: upgrade to newer than 0.18.4. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-16228 being exploited?

CVE-2017-16228 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2017-16228 affect?

CVE-2017-16228 affects dulwich. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Dulwich before 0.18.5, when an SSH subprocess is used, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via an ssh URL with an initial dash character in the hostname, a related issue to CVE-2017-9800, CVE-2017-12836, CVE-2017-12976, CV

How urgent is CVE-2017-16228?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2015-0838 HIGH 7.5 MITIGATE UPGRADE Buffer overflow in the C implementation of the apply_delta function in _pack.c in Dulwich before 0.9.9 allows
CVE-2014-9706 HIGH 7.5 MITIGATE UPGRADE The build_index_from_tree function in index.py in Dulwich before 0.9.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbi

References

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