# CVE-2016-9566: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers in the nagios group can gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the log file, potentially escalated by remote attackers.

- **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:** 15 Dec 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9332-j4wp-2xcq, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-9566

## What is CVE-2016-9566?

CVE-2016-9566 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 15 Dec 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

base/logging.c in Nagios Core before 4.2.4 allows local users with access to an account in the nagios group to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the log file.  NOTE: this can be leveraged by remote attackers using CVE-2016-9565.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9566?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Nagios Nagios.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9566?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-9566 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-9566 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Nagios < 4.2.4 - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2002-1959](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-1959/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2016-0726](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0726/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2008-7313](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7313/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-5009](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5009/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-9565](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9565/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-9566 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9566 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 15 Dec 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-9566 exists.

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-2016-9566/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9566/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9566
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9566
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9566

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9566/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.