# CVE-2016-8964: Security feature bypass in BigFix Inventory

> Remote attackers can brute force credentials due to inadequate account lockout settings in IBM BigFix Inventory.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jul 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-84gr-jc26-g5mr

## What is CVE-2016-8964?

CVE-2016-8964 is a critical vulnerability in IBM BigFix Inventory, published on 13 Jul 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM BigFix Inventory v9 9.2 uses an inadequate account lockout setting that could allow a remote attacker to brute force account credentials. IBM X-Force ID: 118853.

Weakness: CWE-254, CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-8964?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Ibm Bigfix Inventory, Ibm License Metric Tool.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8964?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-8964 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-8964 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8964 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM BigFix Inventory

- [CVE-2016-8980](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8980/): XML external entity in BigFix Inventory (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2016-8961](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8961/): Open redirect in BigFix Inventory (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2016-8962](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8962/): Weak cryptography in BigFix Inventory (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2016-8966](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8966/): Information disclosure in BigFix Inventory (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2016-8963](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8963/): Information disclosure in BigFix Inventory (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8964 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8964 is a critical vulnerability in IBM BigFix Inventory, published on 13 Jul 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-2016-8964 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM BigFix Inventory. 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-2016-8964/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8964/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8964
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8964
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8964

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8964/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.