# CVE-2016-9605: Cobbler Arbitrary File Read

> An attacker can read arbitrary files from the server by exploiting a path traversal flaw in the Cobbler web interface.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 22 Aug 2018
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4vc9-4xpq-77vm, PYSEC-2026-623, SUSE-SU-2017:1699-1

## What is CVE-2016-9605?

CVE-2016-9605 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in The cobbler Project cobbler, published on 22 Aug 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A flaw was found in cobbler software component version 2.6.11-1. It suffers from an invalid parameter validation vulnerability, leading the arbitrary file reading. The flaw is triggered by navigating to a vulnerable URL via cobbler-web on a default installation.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9605?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including cobbler. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `cobbler` | PyPI | All versions to 2.6.11-1 | None |
| `cobbler` | PyPI | All versions to 2.6.11-1 | None |
| `cobbler` | PyPI | All versions to 2.6.11-1 | None |
| `cobbler` | SUSE:Manager Client Tools 12 | All versions | 2.6.6-48.1 |
| `cobbler` | SUSE:Manager Server 3.0 | All versions | 2.6.6-48.1 |

Products: Cobbler Project Cobbler.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9605?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-9605 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9605 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in The cobbler Project cobbler

- [CVE-2021-40323](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40323/): Cobbler before 3.3.0 allows log poisoning (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-10931](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10931/): Cobbler has Exposed Dangerous Method or Function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000469](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000469/): Cobbler vulnerable to arbitrary code execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-0860](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0860/): Improper Authorization in cobbler/cobbler (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2021-45082](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45082/): Command Injection in Cobbler (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-9605 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9605 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in The cobbler Project cobbler, published on 22 Aug 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9605 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- cobbler (PyPI): affected all versions up to 2.6.11-1; no fix listed
- cobbler (PyPI): affected all versions up to 2.6.11-1; no fix listed
- cobbler (PyPI): affected all versions up to 2.6.11-1; no fix listed

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-2016-9605/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9605/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9605
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9605
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9605

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9605/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.