Ayup! The higher pressure of the .17 rounds, plus the added working of the brass, and you get the odd one does exactly this. I would say that the remainder of that ammo be consigned to the dumpster, or restricted to a bolt gun, if shooting it doesn't freak you out.
Looking at the lengthwise crack in the lower case, gonna suggest that the brass was a crappy batch that made it through Quality Control anyways. Looking at the way the bases separated along the primer/rim crimp, hard brass will fracture when bent too tightly, and I would suggest that was what happened here.
How long ago you buy the ammo? Still got the box? Might be worth contacting the maker, see what they have to say. Worst case, they shrug and claim they have no control, but maybe they will cover you a couple free boxes of shells. I doubt they would cover damages.