CVE-2015-7854

CVE-2015-7854 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ntp with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 15% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-120.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
• CVSS v2: 6.5
• EPSS exploit prediction: 15% (96th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-120
• Affected product: Ntp
• Published: 2017-08-07
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Buffer overflow in the password management functionality in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted key file.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-7854?

Buffer overflow in the password management functionality in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted key file.

How severe is CVE-2015-7854?

CVE-2015-7854 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2015-7854 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-7854?

CVE-2015-7854 primarily affects Ntp. In total, 23 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-7854?

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-2015-7854 published?

CVE-2015-7854 was published on 2017-08-07 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug2921
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/77277
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033951
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1274263
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201607-15
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20171004-0001/

Affected products (23)

• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-beta5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p1-rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p2-rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p2-rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p2-rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p3-rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p3-rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p3-rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_balance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_performance_manager:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_unified_manager:-:*:*:*:*:clustered_data_ontap:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:netapp:clustered_data_ontap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:netapp:data_ontap:-:*:*:*:*:7-mode:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Ntp

• CVE-2018-12327 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Stack-based buffer overflow in ntpq and ntpdc of NTP version 4.2.8p11 allows an attacker to achieve code execution or…
• CVE-2018-7183 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Buffer overflow in the decodearr function in ntpq in ntp 4.2.8p6 through 4.2.8p10 allows remote attackers to execute…
• CVE-2015-7871 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Crypto-NAK packets in ntpd in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to bypass…
• CVE-2015-7853 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The datalen parameter in the refclock driver in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote…
• CVE-2015-7705 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The rate limiting feature in NTP 4.x before 4.2.8p4 and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to have unspecified…
• CVE-2015-7849 — High (CVSS 8.8): Use-after-free vulnerability in ntpd in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote authenticated…

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Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

• 197.248.207.139 (ipv4-addr)
• 135.129.128.247 (ipv4-addr)
• 119.201.59.224 (ipv4-addr)
• 42.200.60.186 (ipv4-addr)
• 223.197.153.135 (ipv4-addr)
• 125.212.244.35 (ipv4-addr)
• 202.29.220.126 (ipv4-addr)
• 93.42.227.251 (ipv4-addr)