# CVE-2016-6252: Integer overflow in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit an integer overflow in newuidmap to gain elevated privileges on Linux systems using shadow utilities.

- **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:** 17 Feb 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-6252, GHSA-8rg4-9fq3-cf7g, SUSE-SU-2018:1995-1, SUSE-SU-2018:1997-1, SUSE-SU-2018:1997-2, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-6252

## What is CVE-2016-6252?

CVE-2016-6252 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Feb 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Integer overflow in shadow 4.2.1 allows local users to gain privileges via crafted input to newuidmap.

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-6252?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Enterprise Storage 4 | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1-LTSS | All versions | 4.1.5.1-19.8.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS | All versions | 4.1.5.1-19.8.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 4.1.5.1-19.8.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |
| `shadow` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 | All versions | 4.2.1-27.9.1 |

Products: Shadow Project Shadow.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-6252?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-6252 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-6252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2019-19882](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19882/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7169/): Privilege escalation in n/a (medium 5.3)
- [CVE-2023-29383](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29383/): Information disclosure in n/a (low 3.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-6252 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-6252 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Feb 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-2016-6252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2016-6252/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6252/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6252
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6252
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-6252

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6252/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.