The search_make_new function in evdns.c in libevent before 2.1.6-beta allows attackers to…
Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-125Published · 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
- Partial Red Hat: 13 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-125 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The search_make_new function in evdns.c in libevent before 2.1.6-beta allows attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via an empty hostname.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.05192 92nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 3 advisoriesRed Hat: 13 fixed, 3 without a fix
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:a:libevent_project:libevent:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.1.5 | Vulnerable | Libevent Project |
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:a:libevent_project:libevent:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.1.5 Vulnerable ·Libevent Project
Remediation
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2017:1201 Released 2017-05-08 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) thunderbird-52.1.0-1.el7_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) thunderbird-52.1.0-1.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) thunderbird-52.1.0-1.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) thunderbird-52.1.0-1.el7_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) thunderbird-52.1.0-1.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) thunderbird-52.1.0-1.el7_3
- RHSA-2017:1106 Released 2017-04-21 · Red Hat rating Criticalfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3, firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) firefox-52.1.0-2.el7_3
- RHSA-2017:1104 Released 2017-04-20 · Red Hat rating Criticalfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9, firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) firefox-52.1.0-2.el6_9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. 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 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1106, RHSA-2017:1201 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1106 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104, RHSA-2017:1201 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1106 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104, RHSA-2017:1201 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1106, RHSA-2017:1201 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104, RHSA-2017:1201 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1106, RHSA-2017:1201 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1106 |
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-2016-10197
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-p9p6-m8vm-vcxx
References
Sources
- CVE-2016-10197 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-10197 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-p9p6-m8vm-vcxx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-10197 · 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