# CVE-2016-5685: Command injection in iDRAC7 and iDRAC8

> Authenticated attackers can inject strings to gain Bash shell access on Dell iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 devices, enabling remote code execution and privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Nov 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gcff-q869-4j4x

## What is CVE-2016-5685?

CVE-2016-5685 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8, published on 29 Nov 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Dell iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 devices with firmware before 2.40.40.40 allow authenticated users to gain Bash shell access through a string injection.

Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-5685?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Dell Idrac7 Firmware, Dell Idrac8 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-5685?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-5685 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-5685 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8

- [CVE-2018-1244](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1244/): iDRAC7/iDRAC8/iDrac9 contains a command injection vulnerability in the SNMP agent. (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-5344](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5344/): Memory corruption in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) (high 7.0)
- [CVE-2018-15776](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15776/): iDRAC7, iDRAC8 - Improper Error Handling (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2019-3764](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3764/): Missing authorization in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2018-15774](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15774/): iDRAC7/iDRAC8/iDRAC9 - Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (low 3.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-5685 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-5685 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8, published on 29 Nov 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8. 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-2016-5685/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5685/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5685
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5685
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-5685

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5685/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.