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CVE-2016-6559

9.8 · CRITICAL

Improper bounds checking of the obuf variable in the link_ntoa() function in linkaddr.c of the BSD libc library may allow an attacker to read or write from memory.

Published Jul 13, 2018CWE-120EPSS 3.65%

Overview

CVE-2016-6559 is a critical-severity vulnerability. It was published on July 13, 2018 and has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical description

Improper bounds checking of the obuf variable in the link_ntoa() function in linkaddr.c of the BSD libc library may allow an attacker to read or write from memory. The full impact and severity depends on the method of exploit and how the library is used by applications. According to analysis by FreeBSD developers, it is very unlikely that applications exist that utilize link_ntoa() in an exploitable manner, and the CERT/CC is not aware of any proof of concept. A blog post describes the functionality of link_ntoa() and points out that none of the base utilities use this function in an exploitable manner. For more information, please see FreeBSD Security Advisory SA-16:37.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

References

Refwww.securitytracker.com/id/1037398Refwww.freebsd.org/security/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-16:37.libc.ascRefwww.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/548487Refwww.securityfocus.com/bid/94694Refwww.securitytracker.com/id/1037398Refwww.freebsd.org/security/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-16:37.libc.ascRefwww.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/548487Refwww.securityfocus.com/bid/94694

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-6559?

CVE-2016-6559 is a critical-severity vulnerability. It was published on July 13, 2018 and has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2016-6559?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2016-6559?

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2016-6559?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2016-6559 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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