CVE-2017-9798
Description
Apache httpd allows remote attackers to read secret data from process memory if the Limit directive can be set in a user's .htaccess file, or if httpd.conf has certain misconfigurations, aka Optionsbleed. This affects the Apache HTTP Server through 2.2.34 and 2.4.x through 2.4.27. The attacker sends an unauthenticated OPTIONS HTTP request when attempting to read secret data. This is a use-after-free issue and thus secret data is not always sent, and the specific data depends on many factors including configuration. Exploitation with .htaccess can be blocked with a patch to the ap_limit_section function in server/core.c.
Official description from the CVE record, published by apache. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
EPSS
- Score
- 0.94651 (94.7% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.9%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
Affected products
Apache HTTP Server
- affected: Apache HTTP Server through 2.2.34 and 2.4.x through 2.4.27
References
- RHSA-2017:3113 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- 100872 (securityfocus.com)vdb-entry
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247…
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628…
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801…
- RHSA-2017:2882 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:2972 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- blog.fuzzing-project.org/uploads/apache-2.2-optionsbleed-ba…
- support.apple.com/HT208331
- 1039387 (securitytracker.com)vdb-entry
- support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&doc…
- RHSA-2017:3475 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- github.com/hannob/optionsbleed
- svn.apache.org/viewvc/httpd/httpd/branches/2.4.x/server/cor…
- RHSA-2017:3240 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:3195 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:3018 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067…
- RHSA-2017:3239 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:3476 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- 105598 (securityfocus.com)vdb-entry
- httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296…
- RHSA-2017:3114 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:3477 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/09/18/2
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180601-0003
- RHSA-2017:3194 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-9798
- RHSA-2017:3193 (access.redhat.com)vendor-advisory
- DSA-3980 (debian.org)vendor-advisory
- blog.fuzzing-project.org/60-Optionsbleed-HTTP-OPTIONS-metho…
- 42745 (exploit-db.com)exploit
- GLSA-201710-32 (security.gentoo.org)vendor-advisory
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813…
- [httpd-cvs] 20190815 svn commit: r1048743 [4/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20190815 svn commit: r1048742 [4/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20190815 svn commit: r1048743 [3/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20190815 svn commit: r1048742 [3/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- tenable.com/security/tns-2019-09
- [httpd-cvs] 20200401 svn commit: r1058586 [3/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20200401 svn commit: r1058586 [4/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20200401 svn commit: r1058587 [4/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20200401 svn commit: r1058587 [3/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- github.com/apache/httpd/commit/4cc27823899e070268b906ca677e…
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073139 [1/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/json/ (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073140 [3/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/cvejsontohtml.py security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073140 [4/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/cvejsontohtml.py security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073139 [11/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/json/ (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1888194 [11/13] - /httpd/site/trunk/content/security/json/ (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073146 [2/3] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/cvejsontohtml.py security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073149 [1/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/ security/json/ (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073149 [11/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/ security/json/ (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073146 [3/3] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/cvejsontohtml.py security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210606 svn commit: r1075470 [3/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/json/CVE-2020-13938.json security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.html (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Sep/22
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Record last updated
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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, 19:46 UTC. Sources and licenses