CVE-2006-6164

CVE-2006-6164 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openbsd with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

The _dl_unsetenv function in loader.c in the ELF ld.so in OpenBSD 3.9 and 4.0 does not properly remove duplicate environment variables, which allows local users to pass dangerous variables such as LD_PRELOAD to loading processes, which might be leveraged to gain privileges.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2006-6164?
The _dl_unsetenv function in loader.c in the ELF ld.so in OpenBSD 3.9 and 4.0 does not properly remove duplicate environment variables, which allows local users to pass dangerous variables such as LD_PRELOAD to loading processes, which might be leveraged to gain privileges.
How severe is CVE-2006-6164?
CVE-2006-6164 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2006-6164 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (25th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2006-6164?
CVE-2006-6164 primarily affects Openbsd. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2006-6164?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2006-6164 published?
CVE-2006-6164 was published on 2006-11-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (2)

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