The recv_and_process_client_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox allows remote…
Priority HIGH 72CWE-835Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-835.
Summary
The recv_and_process_client_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandwidth consumption) via a forged NTP packet, which triggers a communication loop.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.08967 95th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-6301
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ww72-35h4-5v84
References
Advisory 3
Other 8
- 20190612 SEC Consult SA-20190612-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in WAGO 852 Industrial Managed Switch Series
- 20190613 SEC Consult SA-20190612-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in WAGO 852 Industrial Managed Switch Series
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153278/WAGO-852-Industrial-Managed-Switch-Series-Code-Execution-Hardcoded-Credentials.html
- 20190904 SEC Consult SA-20190904-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco router series RV34X, RV26X and RV16X
- 20190904 SEC Consult SA-20190904-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco router series RV34X, RV26X and RV16X
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html
- 20200313 SEC Consult SA-20200312-0 :: Authenticated Command Injection in Phoenix Contact TC Router & TC Cloud Client
- 20200827 SEC Consult SA-20200827-0 :: Multiple Vulnerabilities in ZTE mobile Hotspot MS910S
More Busybox vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-15900 Busybox contains a Missing SSL certificate validation vulnerability in The "busybox wget"… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2018-15917 BusyBox project BusyBox wget version prior to commit… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-01959 Heap-based buffer overflow in the DHCP client (udhcpc) in BusyBox before 1.25.0 allows… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-37846 BusyBox wget thru 1.3.7 accepted raw CR (0x0D)/LF (0x0A) and other C0 control bytes in… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2023-22583 A use-after-free vulnerability in BusyBox v.1.36.1 allows attackers to cause a denial of… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2021-18788 Out-of-bounds read in busybox CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
Sources
- CVE-2016-6301 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-6301 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ww72-35h4-5v84 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-6301 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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