How severe is CVE-2016-10156?

CVE-2016-10156 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-10156 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (65th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-10156?

CVE-2016-10156 affects Systemd Project Systemd. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-10156?

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-2016-10156 published?

CVE-2016-10156 was published on 2017-01-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-10156

CVE-2016-10156 is a high-severity vulnerability in Systemd Project Systemd with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 7.2
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (65th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-264
Affected product: Systemd Project Systemd
Published: 2017-01-23
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A flaw in systemd v228 in /src/basic/fs-util.c caused world writable suid files to be created when using the systemd timers features, allowing local attackers to escalate their privileges to root. This is fixed in v229.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-10156?: A flaw in systemd v228 in /src/basic/fs-util.c caused world writable suid files to be created when using the systemd timers features, allowing local attackers to escalate their privileges to root. This is fixed in v229.
How severe is CVE-2016-10156?: CVE-2016-10156 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-10156 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (65th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-10156?: CVE-2016-10156 affects Systemd Project Systemd. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-10156?: 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-2016-10156 published?: CVE-2016-10156 was published on 2017-01-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:228:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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