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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-4973

🗓️ 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus🔗 www.tenable.com👁 1 Views

Unpatched systems may allow local buffer overflow via stack smashing protection lacking object size checking.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
CNVD		GNU gcc Local Security Bypass Vulnerability
23 Aug 201600:00
–cnvd
CVE		CVE-2016-4973
7 Jun 201720:00
–cve
Cvelist		CVE-2016-4973
7 Jun 201720:00
–cvelist
Debian CVE		CVE-2016-4973
7 Jun 201720:00
–debiancve
EUVD		EUVD-2016-5945
7 Oct 202500:30
–euvd
NVD		CVE-2016-4973
7 Jun 201720:29
–nvd
OSV		DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4973
7 Jun 201720:29
–osv
OSV		ECHO-A343-3595-94E7
22 Jan 202618:30
–osv
OSV		UBUNTU-CVE-2016-4973
7 Jun 201720:29
–osv
Prion		Buffer overflow
7 Jun 201720:29
–prion
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(254682);
  script_version("1.7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/05/21");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-4973");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-4973");

  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.

  - Binaries compiled against targets that use the libssp library in GCC for stack smashing protection (SSP)
    might allow local users to perform buffer overflow attacks by leveraging lack of the Object Size Checking
    feature. (CVE-2016-4973)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-4973");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-4973");
  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:L/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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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-2016-4973");

  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:"2016/08/17");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/25");

  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: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:debian:debian_linux:13.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:14.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:mingw-w64");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:gcc-mingw-w64");
  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("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-13", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-14", "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/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gnat-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gnat-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gnat-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gnat-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gnat-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gnat-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-13": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "13",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-bootstrap"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-14": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "g++-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-bootstrap"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-i686-win32"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-ucrt64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-posix"},
          {"reference": "gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64-win32"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-25.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "25.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-25.10": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "25.10",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "mingw-w64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

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
7.3High risk
Vulners AI Score7.3
CVSS 24.6
CVSS 37.8
EPSS0.00034
buffer overflowstack smashingobject size
1