# CVE-2016-10156: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can escalate privileges to root due to world-writable SUID files created by systemd timers.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-10156, GHSA-4r87-5wgm-7h7m, SUSE-SU-2017:0279-1

## What is CVE-2016-10156?

CVE-2016-10156 is a high-severity vulnerability in Systemd Project Systemd, published on 23 Jan 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw in systemd v228 in /src/basic/fs-util.c caused world writable suid files to be created when using the systemd timers features, allowing local attackers to escalate their privileges to root. This is fixed in v229.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-10156?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `systemd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | All versions | 228-132.1 |
| `systemd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 | All versions | 228-132.1 |
| `systemd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 | All versions | 228-132.1 |
| `systemd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 228-132.1 |
| `systemd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP2 | All versions | 228-132.1 |

Products: Systemd Project Systemd.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-10156?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-10156 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-10156 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Systemd 228 (SUSE 12 SP2 / Ubuntu Touch 15.04) - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Systemd Project Systemd

- [CVE-2015-7510](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-7510/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000082](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000082/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-9445](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9445/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2017-9217](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9217/): Null dereference in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2026-40224](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-40224/): Privilege escalation in systemd (medium 6.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-10156 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-10156 is a high-severity vulnerability in Systemd Project Systemd, published on 23 Jan 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-10156 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Systemd Project Systemd. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10156/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10156/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-10156
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10156
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-10156

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10156/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.