CVE-2017-12995: tcpdump Infinite Loop
CVSS: 9.8v3.1CriticalModified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2017-12995DEBIAN-CVE-2017-12995
Published 14-09-2017Last modified 04-12-2025
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2017-12995 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Infinite Loop vulnerability in tcpdump. EPSS estimates a 2.41% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 83.8% of scored vulnerabilities.
CVSS score
9.8/10
010
Critical · v3.1 (CVE.org)EPSS score
2.41%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 daysKEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 8 · Related 4Timeline
- 14-09-2017PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 04-12-2025Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
The DNS parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 could enter an infinite loop due to a bug in print-domain.c:ns_print().
CVSS metrics
7 scores · 4 sources · 3 versionsCritical 9.8Preferred score · CVE.org (CNA)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSourcesAll 3 agree
- NVDNIST9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
High 7.5Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HSourcesAll 3 agree
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.5HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.5HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Medium 5.0Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:PSourcesSingle source
EPSS trend
Probability
2.41%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
84%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 2.41% on 18-09-2026
18-09-202618-10-2026
EPSS score2.41%
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Debian1 product
- tcpdump< 4.9.2-1
Tcpdump1 product
- tcpdump≤ 4.9.1
Ubuntu1 product
- tcpdump< 4.9.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.1 | < 4.9.2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1
3 vendors · 3 products
References
12 links- support.apple.com/HT208221X Refsource CONFIRM
- github.com/the-tcpdump-group/tcpdump/commit/3a76fd7c95fced2c2f8c8148a9055c3a542eff29X Refsource CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory