CVE-2015-7851

Name: CVE-2015-7851
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-01-28T17:15:12.053+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 6.5/10EPSS 3.94%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2015-7851 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 6.5/10 on the CVSS scale. Directory traversal vulnerability in the save_config function in ntpd in ntp_control.c in NTP before 4.2.8p4, when used on systems that do not use '\' or '/' characters for directory separation such as OpenVMS, allows remote authenticated users to overwrite arbitrary files.. EPSS estimates a 3.94% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the save_config function in ntpd in ntp_control.c in NTP before 4.2.8p4, when used on systems that do not use '\' or '/' characters for directory separation such as OpenVMS, allows remote authenticated users to overwrite arbitrary files.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

6.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS Probability

3.94%

89.1th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-22

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Ntp	Ntp	>= 4.2.0, < 4.2.8	—
Ntp	Ntp	>= 4.3.0, < 4.3.77	—
Ntp	Ntp	4.2.8	P1

References

http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug2918Vendor Advisory
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNoticeRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
http://www.talosintel.com/reports/TALOS-2015-0062/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug2918Vendor Advisory
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNoticeRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
http://www.talosintel.com/reports/TALOS-2015-0062/Exploit, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jan 28, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-7851?

How severe is CVE-2015-7851?

CVE-2015-7851 has a CVSS score of 6.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 3.94% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2015-7851?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2015-7851?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST