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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-5180

🗓️ 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 4 Views

Linux distros have unpatched vulnerability CVE-2016-5180 causing potential remote code execution.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
FreeBSD
node.js -- ares_create_query single byte out of buffer write
18 Oct 201600:00
freebsd
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: Multiple vulnerabilities may affect IBM® SDK for Node.js™
9 Aug 201804:20
ibm
AlpineLinux
CVE-2016-5180
3 Oct 201615:00
alpinelinux
ArchLinux
[ASA-201609-31] c-ares: arbitrary code execution
30 Sep 201600:00
archlinux
Circl
CVE-2016-5180
3 Aug 202521:02
circl
CNVD
c-ares heap buffer overflow vulnerability
10 Oct 201600:00
cnvd
CVE
CVE-2016-5180
3 Oct 201615:00
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2016-5180
3 Oct 201615:00
cvelist
Debian
[SECURITY] [DLA 648-1] c-ares security update
6 Oct 201618:55
debian
Debian
[SECURITY] [DSA 3682-1] c-ares security update
30 Sep 201619:49
debian
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(219557);
  script_version("1.4");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2025/09/29");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-5180");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-5180");

  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.

  - Heap-based buffer overflow in the ares_create_query function in c-ares 1.x before 1.12.0 allows remote
    attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a
    hostname with an escaped trailing dot. (CVE-2016-5180)

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-2016-5180");
  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:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-5180");

  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:"2016/09/29");
  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:centos:centos:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:5");
  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:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:c-ares");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:c-ares-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:c-ares");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:c-ares-devel");
  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 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/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-5", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7");

  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/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-5": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "5",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "c-ares"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "CentOS Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "c-ares"},
          {"reference": "c-ares-devel"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "6",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "c-ares"},
          {"reference": "c-ares-devel"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "c-ares"},
          {"reference": "c-ares-devel"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

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_HOLE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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29 Sep 2025 00:00Current
7.9High risk
Vulners AI Score7.9
CVSS 27.5
CVSS 3.19.8
EPSS0.18086
4