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CVE Record

CVE-2017-17878: An issue was discovered in Valve Steam Link build 643.

An issue was discovered in Valve Steam Link build 643. Root passwords longer than 8 characters are truncated because of the default use of DES (aka the CONFIG_FEATURE_DEFAULT_PASSWD_ALGO="des" setting).

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Valve Steam Link build 643 used DES password hashing for the root account, which only considers the first eight password characters. A longer root password may appear stronger than it really is, reducing protection for anyone who can attempt root authentication against the device.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted asset hygiene issue, not a broad enterprise emergency. Prioritize inventory and isolation if Steam Link devices exist in business networks, especially where root access is reachable beyond a trusted admin segment.

Technical view

The CVE describes CONFIG_FEATURE_DEFAULT_PASSWD_ALGO="des" on Valve Steam Link build 643. DES-based Unix password hashing truncates effective password material after eight characters. The sources do not provide CVSS, CWE mapping, a confirmed fixed build, or evidence of broad active exploitation.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Valve Steam Link build 643 as named in the CVE bundle. Organizations are most relevant if they deployed these devices or firmware in managed networks. No other affected products are identified in the provided sources.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not cite CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Practical risk depends on whether an attacker can reach root authentication and whether the root password relied on characters after the first eight for strength.

Researcher notes

The strongest source-grounded claim is password-strength degradation from DES truncation on build 643. The source bundle lacks CVSS data, vendor advisory details, affected-version ranges beyond build 643, and confirmed remediation. Avoid extrapolating to unrelated Steam products.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify any Valve Steam Link devices and confirm their build version.
  • Check Valve guidance and linked issue history for fixed builds or configuration guidance.
  • Restrict management or root access to trusted networks only.
  • Do not rely on password characters beyond the first eight on affected builds.
  • Where vendor-supported, update password hashing away from DES and rotate root credentials.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory devices for Valve Steam Link build 643.
  • Review the firmware password hashing setting for DES use.
  • Confirm whether root authentication is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Check whether longer root passwords are effectively truncated in a controlled test.
  • Record patch or configuration status because no fixed version is named here.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2017-17878 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.