# CVE-2016-5759: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can trick administrators into executing malicious code as root by exploiting insecure script execution paths in the mkdumprd utility.

- **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:** 8 Sep 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wp6g-h882-vcw2, SUSE-SU-2016:2553-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:10892-1

## What is CVE-2016-5759?

CVE-2016-5759 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, published on 8 Sep 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The mkdumprd script called "dracut" in the current working directory "." allows local users to trick the administrator into executing code as root.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-5759?

It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `kdump` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | All versions | 0.8.15-29.1 |
| `kdump` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 | All versions | 0.8.15-29.1 |
| `kdump` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 0.8.15-29.1 |
| `kdump` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 0.9.1-3.2 |

Products: Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Opensuse Leap.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-5759?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-5759 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5759 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop

- [CVE-2015-0459](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0459/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2015-0437](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0437/): Other in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2015-0458](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0458/): Other in n/a (high 7.6)
- [CVE-2015-0403](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0403/): Other in n/a (medium 6.9)
- [CVE-2015-0421](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0421/): Other in n/a (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-5759 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-5759 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, published on 8 Sep 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-2016-5759 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop. 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-2016-5759/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5759/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5759
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5759
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-5759

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5759/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.