CVE-2017-9648
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedAn Uncontrolled Search Path Element issue was discovered in Solar Controls WATTConfig M Software Version 2.5.10.1 and prior. An uncontrolled search path element has been identified, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a target system using a malicious DLL file.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceThis is a DLL hijacking vulnerability (uncontrolled search path element) in Solar Controls WATTConfig M Software version 2.5.10.1 and prior. The application loads dynamic link libraries without specifying full paths, allowing an attacker to place a malicious DLL in a directory that precedes the legitimate DLL location in the search order, leading to arbitrary code execution.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data<= 2.5.10.1CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
-
Identify WATTConfig M installationCheck for WATTConfig M installation by searching common installation directories (C:\Program Files\SolarControls, C:\Program Files (x86)\SolarControls) or use the system search function. Look for the executable (typically wattconfig.exe or similar) and check its file properties to find the version information.Affected if The installed version is 2.5.10.1 or lower, or if version information cannot be obtained but the software is present.
-
Locate application executable pathOpen Task Manager, find the WATTConfig M process, right-click and select 'Open file location' to identify the directory where the application is installed.Affected if The application is running from or installed in a directory that is writable by standard users (not admin-protected).
-
Check if application directory is in system PATHOpen System Properties > Environment Variables and examine both User and System PATH variables. Look for the WATTConfig M installation directory listed in the PATH.Affected if The directory containing the WATTConfig M executable appears in the system or user PATH environment variable.
-
Verify DLL search order vulnerabilityCheck if the application is launched from or can be launched from a directory writable by unprivileged users. Attempt to place a test DLL in the application directory and see if it would be loaded (do not execute, just verify write access).Affected if Standard users have write access to the directory where WATTConfig M is installed or from which it is typically run.
A user is affected if WATTConfig M version 2.5.10.1 or lower is installed AND the application directory is in the system PATH OR the application runs from a directory writable by unprivileged users.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataDeploy the vendor patch when available. In the interim, ensure the application runs from a controlled, non-writable directory and remove the application's directory from the system PATH to prevent loading of attacker-controlled DLLs.
- Consultation3.0 h
- Implementation6.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $3,984.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2017-9648 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2017-9648 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.
A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.
- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
- No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data