CVE-2016-1247

Name: CVE-2016-1247
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2016-11-29T17:59:00.167+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 4.86%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-1247 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. The nginx package before 1.6.2-5+deb8u3 on Debian jessie, the nginx packages before 1.4.6-1ubuntu3.6 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, before 1.10.0-0ubuntu0.16.04.3 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and before 1.10.1-0ubuntu1.1 on Ubuntu 16.10, and the nginx ebuild before 1.10.2-r3 on Gentoo allow local users with access to the web server user account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the error log.. EPSS estimates a 4.86% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The nginx package before 1.6.2-5+deb8u3 on Debian jessie, the nginx packages before 1.4.6-1ubuntu3.6 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, before 1.10.0-0ubuntu0.16.04.3 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and before 1.10.1-0ubuntu1.1 on Ubuntu 16.10, and the nginx ebuild before 1.10.2-r3 on Gentoo allow local users with access to the web server user account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the error log.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

4.86%

90.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-59

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
F5	Nginx	<= 1.10.1
F5	Nginx	<= 1.10.0
F5	Nginx	<= 1.6.2
F5	Nginx	<= 1.4.3
Fedoraproject	Fedora	33
Fedoraproject	Fedora	34
Fedoraproject	Fedora	35

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139750/Nginx-Debian-Based-Distros-Root-Privilege-Escalation.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Nov/78Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Jan/33Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3701Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539796/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93903Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037104Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3114-1Vendor Advisory
https://legalhackers.com/advisories/Nginx-Exploit-Deb-Root-PrivEsc-CVE-2016-1247.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CBIZEKHBOCKO7FUMCO4X53ENMWU5OYFX/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ESTIADC7BDB6VTH4JAP6C6OCW2CQ4NHP/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/P3WOO7E5R2HT5XVOIOFPEFALILVOWZUF/
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-22Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40768/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTswN1k1fQsExploit, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139750/Nginx-Debian-Based-Distros-Root-Privilege-Escalation.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Nov/78Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Jan/33Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3701Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539796/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93903Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037104Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3114-1Vendor Advisory
https://legalhackers.com/advisories/Nginx-Exploit-Deb-Root-PrivEsc-CVE-2016-1247.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CBIZEKHBOCKO7FUMCO4X53ENMWU5OYFX/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ESTIADC7BDB6VTH4JAP6C6OCW2CQ4NHP/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/P3WOO7E5R2HT5XVOIOFPEFALILVOWZUF/
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-22Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40768/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTswN1k1fQsExploit, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Nov 29, 2016
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-1247?

How severe is CVE-2016-1247?

CVE-2016-1247 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 4.86% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-1247?

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-2016-1247?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST