CVE-2016-4971 Path traversal in n/a

High 8.8 Published 30 Jun 2016 Updated 6 Aug 2024

Remote servers can write to arbitrary files via HTTP to FTP redirection, allowing attackers to modify system files.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2016-4971?

CVE-2016-4971 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 30 Jun 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

GNU wget before 1.18 allows remote servers to write to arbitrary files by redirecting a request from HTTP to a crafted FTP resource.

Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4971?

It affects 4 products.

Linux distribution packages (8)

`wget` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`
`wget-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation	All versions	`0:1.14-13.el7`

Products include Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Gnu Wget, Oracle Solaris, Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os.

How do I fix CVE-2016-4971?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2016-4971 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-4971 exists.

Public exploit code: 2 Exploit-DB entries and 3 proofs of concept on GitHub.

All Canonical Ubuntu Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2016-4971, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4971, DLA-536-1, GHSA-5w8p-rj9f-xvj7, RHSA-2016:2587, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-4971 and 1 more.