Description
Portable UPnP SDK (aka libupnp) before 1.6.21 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files in the webroot via a POST request without a registered handler.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 8 | libupnp | 1:1.6.19+git20141001-1+deb8u1 | DSA-3736-1 |
| Debian 7 | libupnp | 1:1.6.17-1.2+deb7u1 | DLA-597-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | libupnp | 1:1.6.17-1.2+deb7u1build0.14.04.1 | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | libupnp | 1:1.6.19+git20160116-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-4794-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- MiCasaVerde VeraLite - Remote Code Execution EDB-40589 · remote · Oct 20, 2016
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- USN-4794-1 libupnp vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- DLA-597-1 libupnp - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3736-1 libupnp - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20160720 Re: libupnp write files via POST mailing-list
- https://twitter.com/mjg59/status/755062278513319936
- https://github.com/mjg59/pupnp-code/commit/be0a01bdb83395d9f3a5ea09c1308a4f1a972cbd
- https://sourceforge.net/p/pupnp/code/ci/master/tree/ChangeLog
- GLSA-201701-52 vendor-advisory
- 40589 exploit
- https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2017-10
- [oss-security] 20160718 libupnp write files via POST mailing-list
- DSA-3736 vendor-advisory
- 92050 vdb-entry