How severe is CVE-2016-2985?

CVE-2016-2985 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-2985 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (21st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-2985?

CVE-2016-2985 primarily affects Ibm Spectrum Scale. In total, 54 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-2985?

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-2016-2985 published?

CVE-2016-2985 was published on 2016-11-25 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-2985

CVE-2016-2985 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Spectrum Scale with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0. 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 7.0)
CVSS v2: 6.9
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (21st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-264
Affected product: Ibm Spectrum Scale
Published: 2016-11-25
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

IBM Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.x before 4.1.1.8 and 4.2.x before 4.2.0.4 and General Parallel File System (GPFS) 3.5.x before 3.5.0.32 and 4.1.x before 4.1.1.8 allow local users to gain privileges via crafted environment variables to a /usr/lpp/mmfs/bin/ setuid program.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-2985?: IBM Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.x before 4.1.1.8 and 4.2.x before 4.2.0.4 and General Parallel File System (GPFS) 3.5.x before 3.5.0.32 and 4.1.x before 4.1.1.8 allow local users to gain privileges via crafted environment variables to a /usr/lpp/mmfs/bin/ setuid program.
How severe is CVE-2016-2985?: CVE-2016-2985 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-2985 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (21st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-2985?: CVE-2016-2985 primarily affects Ibm Spectrum Scale. In total, 54 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-2985?: 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-2016-2985 published?: CVE-2016-2985 was published on 2016-11-25 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (54)

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.1.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:spectrum_scale:4.2.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:general_parallel_file_system:3.5.0.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Ibm Spectrum Scale

CVE-2020-4926 — Critical (CVSS 9.1): A vulnerability in the Spectrum Scale 5.1 core component and IBM Elastic Storage System 6.1 could allow unauthorized…
CVE-2020-4242 — High (CVSS 8.8): IBM Spectrum Scale and IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.5 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to…
CVE-2020-4241 — High (CVSS 8.8): IBM Spectrum Scale and IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.5 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to…
CVE-2019-4715 — High (CVSS 8.8): IBM Spectrum Scale 4.2 and 5.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the system.…
CVE-2021-29740 — High (CVSS 7.8): IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.0 through 5.0.5.6 and 5.1.0 through 5.1.0.3 system core component is affected by a format string…
CVE-2021-29667 — High (CVSS 7.8): IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.0 through 5.0.5.6 and 5.1.0 through 5.1.0.2 is potentially vulnerable to CSV Injection. A remote…

All CVEs affecting Ibm Spectrum Scale →

Other CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities

CVE-2016-8363 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in Moxa OnCell OnCellG3470A-LTE, AWK-1131A/3131A/4131A Series, AWK-3191 Series, AWK-5232/6232…
CVE-2016-7457 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): VMware vRealize Operations (aka vROps) 6.x before 6.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges, or halt…
CVE-2015-7425 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Data Protection component in the VMware vSphere GUI in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments: Data…
CVE-2015-8267 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The PasswordReset.Controllers.ResetController.ChangePasswordIndex method in PasswordReset.dll in Dovestones AD Self…
CVE-2015-7919 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SearchBlox 8.3 before 8.3.1 allows remote attackers to write to the config file, and consequently cause a denial of…
CVE-2015-7071 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The File Bookmark component in Apple OS X before 10.11.2 allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism for…

Browse all CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities →