CouchDB administrative users can configure the database server via HTTP(S). Some of the configuration options include paths for operating system-level binaries that are subsequently launched by CouchDB. This allows an admin user in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to execute arbitrary shell commands as the CouchDB user, including downloading and executing scripts from the public internet.
CVE-2017-12636
HIGHNVD 7.29.0▲Weaponized
EchelonGraph scoreHIGH confidence
Score elevated to 9.0 because EPSS predicts 94% probability of exploitation within the next 30 days (top 0.1% of all CVEs). NVD baseline CVSS 7.2 retained for reference. Confidence: see factors.
Triggered by: EPSS exploit prediction ≥85%
Sources: epss, ghsa, nvd
7.2
EchelonGraph verdictPatch this weekExploitation is likely or a public exploit exists.
- High exploitation likelihood — EPSS 91%
CISA-KEV: Not listedEPSS: 91%CVSS: 7.2Exploit: NoneExposed: 0
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v3
- 7.2
- EG Score
- 9.0(high)
- EPSS
- 99.8%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
November 14, 2017
Last Modified
May 13, 2026
References (12)
- security@apachehttps://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6c405bf3f8358e6314076be9f48c89a2e0ddf00539906291ebdf0c67%40%3Cdev.couchdb.apache.org%3E
- security@apachehttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00026.html
- security@apachehttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-16
- security@apachehttps://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbmu03935en_us
- security@apachehttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44913/
- security@apachehttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45019/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6c405bf3f8358e6314076be9f48c89a2e0ddf00539906291ebdf0c67%40%3Cdev.couchdb.apache.org%3E
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00026.html
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-16
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbmu03935en_us
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44913/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45019/
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 2× in last 7d / 8× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-25 13:47 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-25 13:47 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-23 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-22 21:35 UTCOSV refresh
- 2026-06-17 17:50 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-15 17:45 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 13:27 UTCOSV refresh
- 2026-06-02 20:11 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:11 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 00:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:17 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:17 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 08:06 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-22 08:06 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-18 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(5 references)Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Metasploit module) (2 GitHub PoCs) (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- GitHub PoCXTeam-Wing/CVE-2017-12636First seen Mar 23, 2020
CVE-2017-12636|exploit Couchdb
Open source ↗ - Open source ↗GitHub PoCmoayadalmalat/CVE-2017-12636First seen Aug 25, 2018
- Exploit-DBEDB-45019✓ verifiedFirst seen Jul 13, 2018
Apache CouchDB - Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit)
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-44913✓ verifiedFirst seen Jun 20, 2018
Apache CouchDB < 2.1.0 - Remote Code Execution
Open source ↗ - Metasploitexploit/linux/http/apache_couchdb_cmd_exec✓ verifiedFirst seen Apr 6, 2016
Apache CouchDB Arbitrary Command Execution
Open source ↗
Frequently asked(5)
What is CVE-2017-12636?
CVE-2017-12636 is a high vulnerability published on November 14, 2017. CouchDB administrative users can configure the database server via HTTP(S). Some of the configuration options include paths for operating system-level binaries that are subsequently launched by CouchDB. This allows an admin user in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to execute…
When was CVE-2017-12636 disclosed?
CVE-2017-12636 was first published in the National Vulnerability Database on November 14, 2017, with the most recent update on May 13, 2026. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2017-12636 actively exploited?
CVE-2017-12636 is not currently on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. FIRST EPSS estimates a 99.8% percentile likelihood of exploitation in the next 30 days — higher percentiles indicate greater predicted risk.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-12636?
CVE-2017-12636 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.2 (NVD). EchelonGraph synthesises NVD + CISA KEV + FIRST EPSS + GHSA into a combined EG score of 9.0.
How do I remediate CVE-2017-12636?
Patch to the fixed version published by the affected vendor. Where vendor advisories exist for CVE-2017-12636, EchelonGraph cross-links them in the Vendor Advisories panel below — those typically contain the canonical remediation steps, fixed version numbers, and any vendor-specific mitigations.
Dependency Blast Radius
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