CVE-2016-2781: coreutils Improper Input Validation
CVSS: 6.5v3.0MediumModified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2016-2781DEBIAN-CVE-2016-2781CGA-69wv-r6x7-63w2CGA-6v66-4w82-hwj8
Published 07-02-2017Last modified 09-06-2025
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2016-2781 is a medium (CVSS 6.5) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in coreutils. EPSS estimates a 0.43% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 35.7% of scored vulnerabilities.
CVSS score
6.5/10
010
Medium · v3.0 (NVD)EPSS score
0.43%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 daysKEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 0 · Related 2Timeline
- 07-02-2017PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 09-06-2025Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
CVSS metrics
9 scores · 6 sources · 3 versionsMedium 4.6Preferred score · CVE.org (CNA)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:NSourcesAll 3 agree
- NVDNIST4.6MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated4.6MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Medium 6.5Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:NSourcesAll 5 agree
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated6.5MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated6.5MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · WolfiEcosystem advisory · calculated6.5MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · ChainguardEcosystem advisory · calculated6.5MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Low 2.1Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:NSourcesSingle source
EPSS trend
Probability
0.43%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
36%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 0.43% on 20-09-2026
20-09-202620-10-2026
EPSS score0.43%
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Chainguard1 product
- coreutils< 9.6-r30
Debian1 product
- coreutilsAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 9.4-1
Ubuntu1 product
- coreutilsAll versions (No fix recorded)
Wolfi1 product
- coreutils< 9.6-r30
4 vendors · 4 products
References
10 links- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/28/2Mailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party AdvisoryAdvisory
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/28/3Mailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party AdvisoryAdvisory
