Improper input validation in Talos Network Time Protocol
Priority LOW 33CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
An exploitable denial of service vulnerability exists in the origin timestamp check functionality of ntpd 4.2.8p9. A specially crafted unauthenticated network packet can be used to reset the expected origin timestamp for target peers. Legitimate replies from targeted peers will fail the origin timestamp check (TEST2) causing the reply to be dropped and creating a denial of service condition.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.0391 90th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talos | Network Time Protocol | NTP 4.2.8p9 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Network Time Protocol VendorTalos Affected NTP 4.2.8p9 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p9:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.2.8 p9 | Vulnerable | NTP Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:a:hpe:hpux-ntp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before c.4.2.8.4.0 | Vulnerable | Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) |
| cpe:2.3:o:siemens:simatic_net_cp_443-1_opc_ua_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Siemens |
| cpe:2.3:h:siemens:simatic_net_cp_443-1_opc_ua:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Siemens |
- cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p9:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.8 p9 Vulnerable ·NTP Project
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:a:hpe:hpux-ntp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before c.4.2.8.4.0 Vulnerable ·Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
- cpe:2.3:o:siemens:simatic_net_cp_443-1_opc_ua_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Siemens
- cpe:2.3:h:siemens:simatic_net_cp_443-1_opc_ua:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Siemens
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-9042
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7wvh-qg35-v45r
- 2026-10-07 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile
References
Advisory 5
Other 9
- 20171101 APPLE-SA-2017-10-31-8 Additional information for APPLE-SA-2017-09-25-1 macOS High Sierra 10.13
- 20170925 APPLE-SA-2017-09-25-1 macOS High Sierra 10.13
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/142101/FreeBSD-Security-Advisory-FreeBSD-SA-17-03.ntp.html
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10201
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT208144
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K39041624
- https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa147
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/142284/Slackware-Security-Advisory-ntp-Updates.html
- https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-159-11
Sources
- CVE-2016-9042 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-9042 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7wvh-qg35-v45r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-9042 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences