# CVE-2016-4996: Information disclosure in n/a

> Local users can read the root password from system logs when ssh is enabled on discovered nodes, leading to potential privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/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:** 14 Jul 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jwrm-9f5g-qmp3

## What is CVE-2016-4996?

CVE-2016-4996 is a high-severity vulnerability in Redhat Satellite, published on 14 Jul 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

discovery-debug in Foreman before 6.2 when the ssh service has been enabled on discovered nodes displays the root password in plaintext in the system journal when used to log in, which allows local users with access to the system journal to obtain the root password by reading the system journal, or by clicking Logs on the console.

Weakness: CWE-255

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4996?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Redhat Satellite.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-4996?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-4996 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-4996 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Satellite

- [CVE-2024-7012](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7012/): Puppet-foreman: an authentication bypass vulnerability exists in foreman (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-7923](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7923/): Puppet-pulpcore: an authentication bypass vulnerability exists in pulpcore (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-96659](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96659/): Foreman: excessive permissions for viewer role on preview (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-0118](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0118/): Foreman: arbitrary code execution through templates (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2008-2369](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2369/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-4996 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-4996 is a high-severity vulnerability in Redhat Satellite, published on 14 Jul 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-2016-4996 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Satellite. 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-2016-4996/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4996/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4996
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4996
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-4996

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4996/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.