CVE-2017-16539: Github.com/moby/moby Docker Moby /proc/scsi Path Exposure Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vfjc-2qcw-j95j
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CVSS 5.9
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-16539 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) docker moby /proc/scsi path exposure vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Github.com/moby/moby libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves docker moby /proc/scsi path exposure allows host data loss (scsi micdrop). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 17.12.0-ce.

CVE-2017-16539 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-16539
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vfjc-2qcw-j95j
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Github.com/moby/moby
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-16539

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/moby/moby dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/moby/moby fixed: 17.12.0-ce 
Upgrade github.com/moby/moby to 17.12.0-ce
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/moby/moby

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2017-16539, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/moby/moby:

inspect dependencies for github.com/moby/moby

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/moby/moby in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 17.12.0-ce), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. In Github.com/moby/moby, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The DefaultLinuxSpec function in oci/defaults.go in Docker Moby through 17.03.2-ce does not block /proc/scsi pathnames, which allows attackers to trigger data loss (when certain older Linux kernels are used) by leveraging Docker container access to write a "scsi remove-single-device" line to /proc/scsi/scsi, aka SCSI MICDROP.

CVE-2017-16539 Affected Github.com/moby/moby Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
17.12.0-ce
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/moby/moby
golang/github.com/moby/moby
Go
< 17.12.0-ce
17.12.0-ce

References

NVD — CVE-2017-16539 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16539
Github.com/moby/moby Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moby/moby/pull/35399
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moby/moby/commit/a21ecdf3c8a343a7c94e4c4d01b178c87ca7aaa1
Github.com/moby/moby Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moby/moby
marc.info/ WEB
https://marc.info/?l=linux-scsi&m=150985062200941&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
https://marc.info/?l=linux-scsi&m=150985455801444&w=2
twitter.com/ewindisch/status/92... WEB
https://twitter.com/ewindisch/status/926443521820774401

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-16539?
CVE-2017-16539 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/moby/moby involving Docker Moby /proc/scsi Path Exposure Allows Host Data Loss (SCSI MICDROP) under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Github.com/moby/moby versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 17.12.0-ce across affected packages: github.com/moby/moby.
What version fixes CVE-2017-16539?
Upgrading to 17.12.0-ce (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/moby/moby affected?
Yes, github.com/moby/moby is affected in releases prior to 17.12.0-ce. Upgrade your dependency to 17.12.0-ce or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-16539?
CVE-2017-16539 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-16539?
CVE-2017-16539 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2017-16539?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/moby/moby'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-vfjc-2qcw-j95j",
  "modified" : "2026-01-29T15:12:02Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T00:21:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-16539" ],
  "summary" : "Docker Moby /proc/scsi Path Exposure Allows Host Data Loss (SCSI MICDROP)",
  "details" : "The DefaultLinuxSpec function in oci/defaults.go in Docker Moby through 17.03.2-ce does not block /proc/scsi pathnames, which allows attackers to trigger data loss (when certain older Linux kernels are used) by leveraging Docker container access to write a \"scsi remove-single-device\" line to /proc/scsi/scsi, aka SCSI MICDROP.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/moby/moby"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "17.12.0-ce"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16539"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moby/moby/pull/35399"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moby/moby/commit/a21ecdf3c8a343a7c94e4c4d01b178c87ca7aaa1"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moby/moby"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://marc.info/?l=linux-scsi&m=150985062200941&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://marc.info/?l=linux-scsi&m=150985455801444&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://twitter.com/ewindisch/status/926443521820774401"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-01-29T15:12:02Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-11-04T17:29:00Z"
  }
}