CVE-2016-6664

Name: CVE-2016-6664
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2016-12-13T21:59:01.74+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7/10EPSS 3.08%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-6664 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7/10 on the CVSS scale. mysqld_safe in Oracle MySQL through 5.5.51, 5.6.x through 5.6.32, and 5.7.x through 5.7.14; MariaDB; Percona Server before 5.5.51-38.2, 5.6.x before 5.6.32-78-1, and 5.7.x before 5.7.14-8; and Percona XtraDB Cluster before 5.5.41-37.0, 5.6.x before 5.6.32-25.17, and 5.7.x before 5.7.14-26.17, when using file-based logging, allows local users with access to the mysql account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on error logs and possibly other files.. EPSS estimates a 3.08% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

mysqld_safe in Oracle MySQL through 5.5.51, 5.6.x through 5.6.32, and 5.7.x through 5.7.14; MariaDB; Percona Server before 5.5.51-38.2, 5.6.x before 5.6.32-78-1, and 5.7.x before 5.7.14-8; and Percona XtraDB Cluster before 5.5.41-37.0, 5.6.x before 5.6.32-25.17, and 5.7.x before 5.7.14-26.17, when using file-based logging, allows local users with access to the mysql account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on error logs and possibly other files.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7/10

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

EPSS Probability

3.08%

86.0th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-59

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Oracle	Mysql	>= 5.5.0, <= 5.5.51
Oracle	Mysql	>= 5.6.0, <= 5.6.32
Oracle	Mysql	>= 5.7.0, <= 5.7.14
Mariadb	Mariadb	>= 5.5.0, < 5.5.54
Mariadb	Mariadb	>= 10.0.0, < 10.0.29
Mariadb	Mariadb	>= 10.1.0, < 10.1.21
Percona	Percona Server	>= 5.5, < 5.5.51-38.2
Percona	Percona Server	>= 5.6, < 5.6.32-78.1
Percona	Percona Server	>= 5.7, < 5.7.14-8
Percona	Xtradb Cluster	>= 5.5, < 5.5.41-37.0
Percona	Xtradb Cluster	>= 5.6, < 5.6.32-25.17
Percona	Xtradb Cluster	>= 5.7, < 5.7.14-26.17

References

http://legalhackers.com/advisories/MySQL-Maria-Percona-RootPrivEsc-CVE-2016-6664-5617-Exploit.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139491/MySQL-MariaDB-PerconaDB-Root-Privilege-Escalation.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2130.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2749.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Nov/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3770Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.htmlPatch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539695/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93612Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2192Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0279Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0574Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-18Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40679/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.percona.com/blog/2016/11/02/percona-responds-to-cve-2016-6663-and-cve-2016-6664/Vendor Advisory
http://legalhackers.com/advisories/MySQL-Maria-Percona-RootPrivEsc-CVE-2016-6664-5617-Exploit.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139491/MySQL-MariaDB-PerconaDB-Root-Privilege-Escalation.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2130.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2749.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Nov/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3770Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.htmlPatch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539695/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93612Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2192Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0279Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0574Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-18Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40679/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.percona.com/blog/2016/11/02/percona-responds-to-cve-2016-6663-and-cve-2016-6664/Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Dec 13, 2016
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-6664?

How severe is CVE-2016-6664?

CVE-2016-6664 has a CVSS score of 7/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 3.08% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-6664?

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-2016-6664?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST