CVE-2016-1503
CVE-2016-1503 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Dhcpcd Project Dhcpcd with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. 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-119.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
- CVSS v2: 10.0
- EPSS exploit prediction: 6% (93rd percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-119
- Affected product: Dhcpcd Project Dhcpcd
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
dhcpcd before 6.10.0, as used in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before 2016-04-01 and other products, mismanages option lengths, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) via a malformed DHCP response, aka internal bug 26461634.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2016-1503?
- dhcpcd before 6.10.0, as used in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before 2016-04-01 and other products, mismanages option lengths, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) via a malformed DHCP response, aka internal bug 26461634.
- How severe is CVE-2016-1503?
- CVE-2016-1503 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2016-1503 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2016-1503?
- CVE-2016-1503 primarily affects Dhcpcd Project Dhcpcd. In total, 23 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2016-1503?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2016-1503 published?
- CVE-2016-1503 was published on 2016-04-18 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://roy.marples.name/projects/dhcpcd/info/76a1609352263bd9def1300d7ba990679571fa30
- http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-04-02.html
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034601
- https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/dhcpcd/+/1390ace71179f04a09c300ee8d0300aa69d9db09
- https://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05388711
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-07
Affected products (23)
- cpe:2.3:a:dhcpcd_project:dhcpcd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:6.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Dhcpcd Project Dhcpcd
- CVE-2019-11766 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): dhcp6.c in dhcpcd before 6.11.7 and 7.x before 7.2.2 has a buffer over-read in the D6_OPTION_PD_EXCLUDE feature.
- CVE-2019-11577 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): dhcpcd before 7.2.1 contains a buffer overflow in dhcp6_findna in dhcp6.c when reading NA/TA addresses.
- CVE-2016-1504 — High (CVSS 7.5): dhcpcd before 6.10.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid read and crash) via vectors related…
- CVE-2012-6700 — High (CVSS 7.5): The decode_search function in dhcp.c in dhcpcd 3.x does not properly free allocated memory, which allows remote DHCP…
- CVE-2012-6699 — High (CVSS 7.5): The decode_search function in dhcp.c in dhcpcd 3.x allows remote DHCP servers to cause a denial of service…
- CVE-2012-6698 — High (CVSS 7.5): The decode_search function in dhcp.c in dhcpcd 3.x allows remote DHCP servers to cause a denial of service…
All CVEs affecting Dhcpcd Project Dhcpcd →
Other CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities
- CVE-2026-2778 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to incorrect boundary conditions in the DOM: Core & HTML component. This vulnerability was fixed in…
- CVE-2026-2776 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to incorrect boundary conditions in the Telemetry component in External Software. This vulnerability…
- CVE-2025-1866 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in warmcat libwebsockets allows…
- CVE-2022-27625 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
- CVE-2022-27624 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
- CVE-2020-11896 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Treck TCP/IP stack before 6.0.1.66 allows Remote Code Execution, related to IPv4 tunneling.