Cyber Resilience

CVE-2017-5242

High

Published: 12 January 2023

Published
12 January 2023
Modified
08 April 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 7.7 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0023 46.0th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2017-5242 is a high-severity Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key (CWE-321) vulnerability in Rapid7 Insightvm. Its CVSS base score is 7.7 (High).

Operationally, ranked at the 46.0th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Nexpose and InsightVM virtual appliances downloaded between April 5th, 2017 and May 3rd, 2017 contain identical SSH host keys. Normally, a unique SSH host key should be generated the first time a virtual appliance boots.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

rapid7
insightvm
2017-04-05 — 2017-05-03

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-321 CWE-330

Proper key establishment and management processes directly preclude embedding static cryptographic keys in source code or binaries.

addresses: CWE-321

Supply chain protection includes scrutiny of cryptographic implementations, reducing hard-coded keys planted by untrusted vendors.

addresses: CWE-321

Functional and assurance requirements specified in acquisition can prohibit hard-coded cryptographic keys in delivered products.

addresses: CWE-321

Approved PKI issuance and trust stores replace ad-hoc or hard-coded keys with properly managed, signed certificates.

addresses: CWE-321

Assessments can uncover and prevent suppliers from shipping components that contain hard-coded cryptographic keys.

References