libevent up to 2.1.5 evutil.c evutil_parse_sockaddr_port ip_as_string memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in libevent up to 2.1.5 and classified as critical. This impacts the function evutil_parse_sockaddr_port of the file evutil.c. The manipulation of the argument ip_as_string leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2016-10196. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in libevent up to 2.1.5. This issue affects the function evutil_parse_sockaddr_port of the file evutil.c. The manipulation of the argument ip_as_string with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Stack-based buffer overflow in the evutil_parse_sockaddr_port function in evutil.c in libevent before 2.1.6-beta allows attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via vectors involving a long string in brackets in the ip_as_string argument.

The bug was discovered 01/31/2017. The weakness was shared 03/15/2017 by Guido Vranken (oss-sec). The advisory is shared at openwall.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2016-10196 since 02/01/2017. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 15 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 97195 (Debian DLA-824-1 : libevent security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 196725 (Ubuntu Security Notification for Libevent Vulnerabilities (USN-3228-1)).

Upgrading to version 2.1.6-beta eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (97195) and SecurityFocus (BID 96014†). The entries VDB-98128 and VDB-98130 are related to this item. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7

VulDB Base Score: 8.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 97195
Nessus Name: Debian DLA-824-1 : libevent security update
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 703789
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 3789-1 (libevent - security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: libevent 2.1.6-beta

Timelineinfo

01/31/2017 🔍
01/31/2017 +0 days 🔍
02/01/2017 +1 days 🔍
02/15/2017 +14 days 🔍
02/16/2017 +1 days 🔍
03/15/2017 +27 days 🔍
03/15/2017 +0 days 🔍
03/16/2017 +1 days 🔍
11/25/2025 +3176 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: github.com

Advisory: openwall.com
Researcher: Guido Vranken
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2016-10196 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-10196
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-98129

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 96014 - libevent Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
OSVDB: - CVE-2016-10196 - libevent - Buffer Overflow Issue

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/16/2017 13:28
Updated: 11/25/2025 22:55
Changes: 03/16/2017 13:28 (80), 09/08/2020 12:45 (3), 11/25/2025 22:55 (19)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:CD5:103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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