Description
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.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Apache CouchDB | 1.2.0 to 1.6.1, 2.0.0 to 2.1.0 | — |
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 7 | couchdb | 1.2.0-5+deb7u1 | DLA-1252-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | couchdb | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | couchdb | 1.7.2-2.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:2578-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | couchdb | 1.7.2-2.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:2578-1 |
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Apache CouchDB Arbitrary Command Execution
exploit/linux/http/apache_couchdb_cmd_exec
Exploit-DB 2
- Apache CouchDB - Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit) EDB-45019 · remote · Jul 13, 2018 · verified
- Apache CouchDB < 2.1.0 - Remote Code Execution EDB-44913 · webapps · Jun 20, 2018 · verified
GitHub 2 repositories
-
XTeam-Wing/CVE-2017-12636 ★ 6 · Mar 23, 2020
CVE-2017-12636|exploit Couchdb
-
moayadalmalat/CVE-2017-12636 ★ 3 · Aug 25, 2018
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DLA-1252-1 couchdb - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:2578-1 Security update for couchdb SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 45019 exploit
- [dev] 20171114 Apache CouchDB CVE-2017-12635 and CVE-2017-12636 mailing-list
- 44913 exploit
- GLSA-201711-16 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180121 [SECURITY] [DLA 1252-1] couchdb security update mailing-list
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbmu03935en_us