CVE-2016-2148Busybox Memory Corruption
Heap-based buffer overflow in the DHCP client (udhcpc) in BusyBox before 1.25.0 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via vectors involving OPTION_6RD parsing.
Published Feb 9, 2017 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2016-2148, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-2148, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-2148
Key Facts
Patch in the next maintenance window- CVE-2016-2148 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Busybox, Ubuntu Linux (Canonical), Debian Linux and 16 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. No public exploit code is known.
- EPSS estimates a 27% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Busybox 1:1.21.0-1ubuntu1.4, Busybox 1:1.22.0-15ubuntu1.4, Busybox 1:1.22.0-19+deb9u1.
- Brandefense priority: patch in the next maintenance window, because of its high severity, although no exploitation is known.
Scores
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
27%
Higher than 98.0% of all scored CVEs
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
ATLAS score
48/100
Publication score, see How it works
Exploitation Verdict
KEV listed
Not listed
Federal due date
None
No federal due date
Ransomware use
Not reported
Attributed actors
None named
Exploit & Defence Guidance
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
Public exploit code
2
Proof-of-concept links
In-the-wild evidence
5
Reports of active use
Advisories And Exploit References
- advisoryhttps://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2016-2148
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2148
- advisoryhttps://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2148
- advisoryhttps://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2148
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1029961
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1064976
Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in the DHCP client (udhcpc) in BusyBox before 1.25.0 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via vectors involving OPTION_6RD parsing.
Affected Products
125 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| BusyboxBusybox | See advisory | 1.24.2 |
| Ubuntu LinuxCanonical | 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10 | n/a |
| Debian LinuxDebian | 8.0, 9.0 | n/a |
| busybox-staticsuse | See advisory | 1.34.1-4.9.1 |
| busybox-testsuitesuse | See advisory | 1.35.0-150400.3.3.1 |
Patched Releases
Busybox
1:1.21.0-1ubuntu1.4, 1:1.22.0-15ubuntu1.4, 1:1.22.0-19+deb9u1, 1:1.22.0-9+deb8u2, 1:1.27.2-1, 1:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.2, 1.24.2-r0, 1.34.1-4.9.1, 1.35.0-1.1, 1.35.0-150400.3.3.1, 1.35.0-4.3.1, 1.24.2
busybox-static
1.34.1-4.9.1, 1.35.0-1.1, 1.35.0-150400.3.3.1
busybox-testsuite
1.35.0-1.1, 1.35.0-150400.3.3.1
busybox-warewulf3
1.35.0-1.1, 1.35.0-150400.3.3.1
python3-virtualbox
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-devel
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-guest-desktop-icons
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-guest-source
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-guest-tools
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-guest-x11
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-host-source
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-kmp-default
6.1.34_k5.3.18_150300.59.63-lp153.2.27.1
virtualbox-kmp-preempt
6.1.34_k5.3.18_150300.59.63-lp153.2.27.1
virtualbox-qt
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-vnc
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
virtualbox-websrv
6.1.34-lp153.2.27.2
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Feb 9, 2017
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
- CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow
References
- advisorysecurity.alpinelinux.org · CVE-2016-2148
- advisorysecurity-tracker.debian.org · CVE-2016-2148
- advisoryubuntu.com · CVE-2016-2148
- advisorycve.org · CVERecord
- advisorybugzilla.suse.com · 1029961
FAQ
Common Questions.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the DHCP client (udhcpc) in BusyBox before 1.25.0 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via vectors involving OPTION_6RD parsing.
Affected: Busybox; Ubuntu Linux (Canonical) versions 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10; Debian Linux versions 8.0, 9.0, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
No public exploit code is known.
Fixed versions are available, including Busybox 1:1.21.0-1ubuntu1.4, Busybox 1:1.22.0-15ubuntu1.4, Busybox 1:1.22.0-19+deb9u1.
Brandefense priority: patch in the next maintenance window, because of its high severity, although no exploitation is known.
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