CVE-2016-7406
Exploitation likely. EPSS gives it a 10% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
Steps
Written by AI from the record- Check whether any server, router, appliance, or embedded device runs Dropbear SSH and identify its installed version.
- Upgrade affected installations to Dropbear SSH 2016.74 or later.
- Until upgraded, restrict SSH access to trusted IP addresses or a private network.
- Review SSH connection logs for unusual usernames, host values, or unexpected service crashes.
What it is
From the CVE record
Format string vulnerability in Dropbear SSH before 2016.74 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in the (1) username or (2) host argument.
In plain language
Written by AI from the recordDropbear SSH versions before 2016.74 can let an outsider take over the server, so a typical small business using it should act soon.
Unauthenticated network-based remote code execution in Dropbear SSH through unsafe handling of format specifiers supplied in connection username or host fields.
If you're affected
- Full server takeover
- Business data exposure
- Service disruption
- Ransomware risk
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.
- Public exploits
No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.
- EPSS
10% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 96th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
- Attention now
Rising.
Real risk signals with little public attention so far.
Lifecycle
23 events over 3491 days, from the signal feeds we watch.
- EPSS band changelow → moderateepss band change
- EPSS band changemoderate → lowepss band change
- EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
- EPSS band changemoderate → 0epss band change
- EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
- EPSS band changemoderate → low
Affected products
Technical detail
CVSS 3.0 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Scored 9.8 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
- Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
- Initial AccessT1190Exploit Public-Facing Applicationlow confidence
Sources
References in the record
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/2
- securityfocus.com/bid/92974
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1376353
And 7 more references. See all after sign-in
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