# CVE-2016-6318: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit a stack-based buffer overflow in cracklib to crash the application or escalate privileges via a long GECOS field.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 7 Sep 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2016-6318, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-6318, DLA-2220-1, DLA-599-1, GHSA-f7mv-c94v-v96r, MGASA-2016-0302, SUSE-SU-2016:2107-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2211-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-6318, openSUSE-SU-2024:10359-1

## What is CVE-2016-6318?

CVE-2016-6318 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 7 Sep 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the FascistGecosUser function in lib/fascist.c in cracklib allows local users to cause a denial of service (application crash) or gain privileges via a long GECOS field, involving longbuffer.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-6318?

It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | All versions | 2.9.0-7.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.8.12-56.13.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 | All versions | 2.9.0-7.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.8.12-56.13.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 2.9.0-7.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.8.12-56.13.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | All versions | 2.9.0-7.1 |
| `cracklib` | SUSE:Studio Onsite 1.3 | All versions | 2.8.12-56.13.1 |

Products: Cracklib Project Cracklib, Debian Debian Linux, Opensuse Leap.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-6318?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-6318 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-6318 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-6318 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-6318 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 7 Sep 2016. 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-2016-6318 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2016-6318/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6318/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6318
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6318
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-6318

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6318/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.