# CVE-2016-6489: Information disclosure in n/a

> Attackers can discover private keys via cache side-channel attacks in Nettle's RSA and DSA decryption code.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Apr 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-6489, DLA-593-1, GHSA-m9gx-jgm7-m42g, MGASA-2016-0290, SUSE-SU-2017:1481-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-6489, USN-3193-1

## What is CVE-2016-6489?

CVE-2016-6489 is a high-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 14 Apr 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The RSA and DSA decryption code in Nettle makes it easier for attackers to discover private keys via a cache side channel attack.

Weakness: CWE-203 (Observable Discrepancy)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-6489?

It affects 6 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `libnettle` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.7.1-12.1 |
| `libnettle` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.7.1-12.1 |
| `libnettle` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.7.1-12.1 |
| `libnettle` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.7.1-12.1 |
| `libnettle` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.7.1-12.1 |

Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Nettle Project Nettle, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Hpc Node, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-6489?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-6489 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-6489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-6489 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-6489 is a high-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 14 Apr 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-6489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu 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-2016-6489/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6489/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6489
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6489
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-6489

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6489/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.