# What is CVE-2017-10955?

> CVE-2017-10955 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) in Data Protection Advisor from Emc, published on 19 October 2017. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 6.7%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2017-10955

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 49 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 8.8 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 6.7% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 19 October 2017
- **Record last updated:** 20 April 2025
- **Main product:** Data Protection Advisor from Emc
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2017-10955? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of EMC Data Protection Advisor 6.3.0. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the EMC DPA Application service, which listens on TCP port 9002 by default. When parsing the preScript parameter, the process does not properly validate a user-supplied string before using it to execute a system call. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code under the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-4697. NOTE: Dell EMC disputes that this is a vulnerability

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
- CWE-20: Improper Input Validation

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: An ordinary user account
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2017-10955 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 6.7%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 6.7%, 6.7%, 6.7%, 6.7%, 6.7%, 6.7%, 6.7%.

### Timeline

- 19 October 2017: Published
- 20 April 2025: Record last updated
- 16 June 2026: Exploit likelihood fell

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2017-10955 scores **49 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2017-10955?

The published record lists 1 product.

- [Data Protection Advisor](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/emc/data_protection_advisor) by [Emc](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/emc) (Application): 6.3.0

## How do I fix CVE-2017-10955?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the latest update from the vendor. The references list where the vendor has published details.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101008) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [zerodayinitiative.com](https://zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-17-812) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2017-10955?

CVE-2017-10955 is a high-severity flaw in Data Protection Advisor from Emc, published on 19 October 2017. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2017-10955?

It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2017-10955 is 49 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2017-10955 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 6.7%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2017-10955 affect?

For Data Protection Advisor from Emc: 6.3.0.

### How do I fix CVE-2017-10955?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2017-10955 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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