CVE-2016-0778

Name: CVE-2016-0778
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2016-01-14T22:59:02.28+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 8.1/10EPSS 20.37%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-0778 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 8.1/10 on the CVSS scale. The (1) roaming_read and (2) roaming_write functions in roaming_common.c in the client in OpenSSH 5.x, 6.x, and 7.x before 7.1p2, when certain proxy and forward options are enabled, do not properly maintain connection file descriptors, which allows remote servers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact by requesting many forwardings.. EPSS estimates a 20.37% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The (1) roaming_read and (2) roaming_write functions in roaming_common.c in the client in OpenSSH 5.x, 6.x, and 7.x before 7.1p2, when certain proxy and forward options are enabled, do not properly maintain connection file descriptors, which allows remote servers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact by requesting many forwardings.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

8.1/10

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

EPSS Probability

20.37%

97.2th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Oracle	Linux	7
Oracle	Solaris	11.3
Openbsd	Openssh	5.4
Openbsd	Openssh	5.5
Openbsd	Openssh	5.6
Openbsd	Openssh	5.7
Openbsd	Openssh	5.8
Openbsd	Openssh	5.9
Openbsd	Openssh	6.0
Openbsd	Openssh	6.1
Openbsd	Openssh	6.2
Openbsd	Openssh	6.3
Openbsd	Openssh	6.4
Openbsd	Openssh	6.5
Openbsd	Openssh	6.6
Openbsd	Openssh	6.7
Openbsd	Openssh	6.8
Openbsd	Openssh	6.9
Openbsd	Openssh	7.0
Openbsd	Openssh	7.1
Apple	Mac Os X	>= 10.9.0, <= 10.9.5
Apple	Mac Os X	>= 10.10.0, <= 10.10.5
Apple	Mac Os X	>= 10.11.0, <= 10.11.3
Hp	Virtual Customer Access System	<= 15.07
Sophos	Unified Threat Management Software	9.353

References

http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10734Third Party Advisory
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Release Notes, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-February/176516.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-January/176349.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00006.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00007.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00008.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00009.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00013.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00014.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135273/Qualys-Security-Advisory-OpenSSH-Overflow-Leak.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Jan/44Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3446Third Party Advisory
http://www.openssh.com/txt/release-7.1p2Patch, Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/14/7Exploit, Mailing List, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinoct2015-2511968.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjan2016-2867209.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/537295/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/80698Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034671Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2869-1Third Party Advisory
https://blogs.sophos.com/2016/02/17/utm-up2date-9-354-released/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://blogs.sophos.com/2016/02/29/utm-up2date-9-319-released/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa109Third Party Advisory
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05247375Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05356388Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05385680Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05390722Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201601-01Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/HT206167Vendor Advisory
http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10734Third Party Advisory
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Release Notes, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-February/176516.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-January/176349.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00006.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00007.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00008.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00009.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00013.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00014.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135273/Qualys-Security-Advisory-OpenSSH-Overflow-Leak.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Jan/44Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3446Third Party Advisory
http://www.openssh.com/txt/release-7.1p2Patch, Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/14/7Exploit, Mailing List, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinoct2015-2511968.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjan2016-2867209.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/537295/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/80698Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034671Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2869-1Third Party Advisory
https://blogs.sophos.com/2016/02/17/utm-up2date-9-354-released/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://blogs.sophos.com/2016/02/29/utm-up2date-9-319-released/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa109Third Party Advisory
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05247375Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05356388Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05385680Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05390722Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201601-01Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/HT206167Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jan 14, 2016
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-0778?

How severe is CVE-2016-0778?

CVE-2016-0778 has a CVSS score of 8.1/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 20.37% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-0778?

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-2016-0778?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST