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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-2568

🗓️ 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus🔗 www.tenable.com👁 9 Views

Linux/Unix host has unpatched vulnerability CVE-2016-2568; no vendor solution available.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
AlpineLinux		CVE-2016-2568
13 Feb 201718:00
–alpinelinux
Information Security Automation		Scanvus now supports Vulners and Vulns.io VM Linux vulnerability detection APIs
30 Dec 202218:03
–avleonov
CBLMariner		CVE-2016-2568 affecting package polkit 0.116-7
12 Jan 202509:15
–cbl_mariner
CBLMariner		CVE-2016-2568 affecting package polkit for versions less than 123-1
15 May 202515:08
–cbl_mariner
CBLMariner		CVE-2016-2568 affecting package polkit 0.119-4
12 Jan 202509:15
–cbl_mariner
Circl		CVE-2016-2568
19 Mar 202600:00
–circl
CNVD		Red Hat PolicyKit pkexec Command Execution Vulnerability
2 Mar 201600:00
–cnvd
CVE		CVE-2016-2568
13 Feb 201718:00
–cve
Cvelist		CVE-2016-2568
13 Feb 201718:00
–cvelist
Debian CVE		CVE-2016-2568
13 Feb 201718:00
–debiancve
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(219302);
  script_version("1.10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/05/21");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-2568");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-2568");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - pkexec, when used with --user nonpriv, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted
    TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer. (CVE-2016-2568)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2016-2568");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2568");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2568");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-2568");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/02/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/03/04");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:24.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:25.04");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:25.10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:centos:centos:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:11.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:12.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:policykit-1");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:polkit");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:polkit-desktop-policy");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:polkit-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:polkit-docs");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:polkit-libs");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:policykit-1");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:polkit");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:polkit-desktop-policy");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:polkit-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:polkit-docs");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:polkit-libs");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("set_linux_os_id.nasl", "ssh_get_info2.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/OS/identifier", "Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/CentOS Linux-7", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-9", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-14.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-24.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-25.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-25.10");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/CentOS/rpm-list")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "pkexec"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"},
          {"reference": "polkitd"},
          {"reference": "polkitd-javascript"},
          {"reference": "polkitd-pkla"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-backend-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-backend-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-backend-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-backend-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-backend-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-backend-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "pkexec"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"},
          {"reference": "polkitd"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "pkexec"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"},
          {"reference": "polkitd"},
          {"reference": "polkitd-pkla"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-25.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "25.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "pkexec"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"},
          {"reference": "polkitd"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-25.10": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "25.10",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-polkit-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-agent-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-0"},
          {"reference": "libpolkit-gobject-1-dev"},
          {"reference": "pkexec"},
          {"reference": "policykit-1-doc"},
          {"reference": "polkitd"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "6",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "polkit"},
          {"reference": "polkit-desktop-policy"},
          {"reference": "polkit-devel"},
          {"reference": "polkit-docs"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "CentOS Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "polkit"},
          {"reference": "polkit-devel"},
          {"reference": "polkit-docs"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "polkit"},
          {"reference": "polkit-devel"},
          {"reference": "polkit-docs"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-9": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "9",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "polkit"},
          {"reference": "polkit-devel"},
          {"reference": "polkit-docs"},
          {"reference": "polkit-libs"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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21 May 2026 00:00Current
7.1High risk
Vulners AI Score7.1
CVSS 24.4
CVSS 3.17.8
EPSS0.00131
linuxunixvulnerabilityunpatchedcve-2016-2568pkexectiocstisecurity
9