---
title: "CVE-2017-12635: Apache CouchDB vulnerability | CubePath"
description: "Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-12635
---

# CVE-2017-12635: Apache CouchDB vulnerability | CubePath

## Description

Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to submit \_users documents with duplicate keys for 'roles' used for access control within the database, including the special case '\_admin' role, that denotes administrative users. In combination with CVE-2017-12636 (Remote Code Execution), this can be used to give non-admin users access to arbitrary shell commands on the server as the database system user. The JSON parser differences result in behaviour that if two 'roles' keys are available in the JSON, the second one will be used for authorising the document write, but the first 'roles' key is used for subsequent authorization for the newly created user. By design, users can not assign themselves roles. The vulnerability allows non-admin users to give themselves admin privileges.

Official description from the CVE record, published by apache. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12635)

## Key data

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.99838 (99.8% probability)

Percentile

99.96%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

## Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

- Apache CouchDB

  - affected: 1.2.0 to 1.6.1
  - affected: 2.0.0 to 2.1.0

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [44498](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44498/)  (exploit-db.com) exploit
- [45019](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45019/)  (exploit-db.com) exploit
- [\[dev\] 20171114 Apache CouchDB CVE-2017-12635 and CVE-2017-12636](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6c405bf3f8358e6314076be9f48c89a2e0ddf00539906291ebdf0c67%40%3Cdev.couchdb.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [GLSA-201711-16](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-16)  (security.gentoo.org) vendor-advisory
- [\[debian-lts-announce\] 20180121 \[SECURITY\] \[DLA 1252-1\] couchdb security update](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00026.html)  (lists.debian.org) mailing-list
- [101868](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101868)  (securityfocus.com) vdb-entry
- [support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en\_US&doc…](https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en%5FUS&docId=emr%5Fna-hpesbmu03935en%5Fus)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Aug 7, 2017
2. Record published Nov 14, 2017
3. Record last updated Sep 17, 2024

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Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:59 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)