CVE-2016-10010 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
sshd in OpenSSH before 7.4, when privilege separation is not used, creates forwarded Unix-domain sockets as root, which might allow local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors, related to serverloop.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10010 affects OpenSSH versions prior to 7.4 and specifically targets the sshd daemon when privilege separation is disabled. This flaw resides in the serverloop.c component of the OpenSSH implementation and represents a significant local privilege escalation risk for systems running vulnerable configurations. The issue stems from how the sshd daemon handles forwarded Unix-domain sockets when operating without privilege separation, creating these sockets with root privileges that could potentially be exploited by local attackers to elevate their system access levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of Unix-domain socket creation within the sshd process when privilege separation is not active. When sshd operates without privilege separation, it runs with elevated privileges and creates forwarded Unix-domain sockets as the root user. This design flaw allows local users to manipulate or interfere with these socket operations in ways that could lead to privilege escalation. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, potentially involving socket manipulation, file descriptor hijacking, or other low-level system interaction techniques that exploit the elevated privilege context in which these sockets are created.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a serious threat to systems where OpenSSH is configured to run without privilege separation, which may be common in certain enterprise environments or legacy systems. The local privilege escalation capability means that any user with access to the system could potentially gain root access, undermining the fundamental security model of the operating system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require network access or authentication, making it exploitable through local user accounts or compromised local processes. This makes it a valuable target for attackers who have already gained limited access to a system but seek to escalate their privileges to achieve complete system control.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privileges, and represents a classic case of insecure default configuration combined with improper privilege handling. From the ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging insecure configurations and improper privilege management to achieve elevated system access. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that many systems may have privilege separation disabled for operational reasons, such as compatibility with certain applications or legacy system requirements, making this vulnerability more prevalent than initially apparent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10010 primarily involve upgrading to OpenSSH version 7.4 or later, which includes patches addressing the privilege separation socket creation issue. Organizations should also review their sshd configuration to ensure that privilege separation is enabled, as this serves as an effective compensating control that reduces the attack surface. System administrators should implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around socket creation and network activity related to SSH connections. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that SSH configurations follow security best practices, including the mandatory use of privilege separation and proper user access controls to minimize the risk of local privilege escalation through this and similar vulnerabilities.