# CVE-2016-4004: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote authenticated administrators can read arbitrary files via directory traversal in Dell OpenManage Server Administrator.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Apr 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8j88-pw27-gh88

## What is CVE-2016-4004?

CVE-2016-4004 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Apr 2016. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) 8.2 allows remote authenticated administrators to read arbitrary files via a ..\ (dot dot backslash) in the file parameter to ViewFile.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4004?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Dell Openmanage Server Administrator.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-4004?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-4004 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-4004 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-4004 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Validation of Arbitrary File Read Vulnerabilities in Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) - CVE-2016-4004, CVE-2021-21514 and CVE-2020-5377. (github_poc): https://github.com/und3sc0n0c1d0/AFR-in-OMSA
- Dell OpenManage Server Administrator 8.2 - (Authenticated) Directory Traversal (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-21513](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21513/): Auth bypass in Dell Open Manage Server Administrator (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2026-81442](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81442/): Privilege escalation in OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node (Patch) for Windows (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-81475](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81475/): Auth bypass in OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node (Patch) for Windows (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-81476](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81476/): Dell OpenManage Server Administrator, versions prior to 11.1.0.3, contains an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Comm (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-81478](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81478/): Hardcoded credentials in OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node (Patch) for Windows (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-4004 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-4004 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Apr 2016. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-4004 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2016-4004/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4004/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4004
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4004
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-4004

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4004/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.