GNU C Library up to 2.25 iconv -c input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
4.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as problematic has been reported in GNU C Library up to 2.25. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component iconv. Performing a manipulation of the argument -c results in input validation. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2016-10228. Attacking locally is a requirement. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU C Library up to 2.25 (Software Library). It has been classified as problematic. This affects an unknown code of the component iconv. The manipulation of the argument -c with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

The iconv program in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.25 and earlier, when invoked with the -c option, enters an infinite loop when processing invalid multi-byte input sequences, leading to a denial of service.

The bug was discovered 03/01/2017. The weakness was published 03/02/2017 (oss-sec). It is possible to read the advisory at openwall.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2016-10228 since 03/01/2017. The exploitability is told to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. A authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 266254 (NewStart CGSL MAIN 6.06 : glibc Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0229)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (266254) and SecurityFocus (BID 96525†). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Software Library

Vendor

• GNU

Name

• C Library

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4
• 2.5
• 2.6
• 2.7
• 2.8
• 2.9
• 2.10
• 2.11
• 2.12
• 2.13
• 2.14
• 2.15
• 2.16
• 2.17
• 2.18
• 2.19
• 2.20
• 2.21
• 2.22
• 2.23
• 2.24
• 2.25

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.gnu.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 3.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.9
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 266254
Nessus Name: NewStart CGSL MAIN 6.06 : glibc Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0229)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

03/01/2017 🔍
03/01/2017 +0 days 🔍
03/01/2017 +0 days 🔍
03/02/2017 +1 days 🔍
03/02/2017 +0 days 🔍
03/02/2017 +0 days 🔍
10/01/2025 +3135 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: openwall.com
Status: Not defined
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2016-10228 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-10228
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-97395
SecurityFocus: 96525 - GNU glibc CVE-2016-10228 Infinite Loop Denial of Service Vulnerability

Entryinfo

Created: 03/02/2017 09:52
Updated: 10/01/2025 10:46
Changes: 03/02/2017 09:52 (59), 10/15/2019 08:35 (4), 10/01/2025 10:46 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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