How severe is CVE-2016-6253?

CVE-2016-6253 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-2016-6253 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (88th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-6253?

CVE-2016-6253 primarily affects Netbsd. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-6253?

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-2016-6253 published?

CVE-2016-6253 was published on 2017-01-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-6253

CVE-2016-6253 is a high-severity vulnerability in Netbsd 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-59.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 7.2
EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (88th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-59
Affected product: Netbsd
Published: 2017-01-20
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

mail.local in NetBSD versions 6.0 through 6.0.6, 6.1 through 6.1.5, and 7.0 allows local users to change ownership of or append data to arbitrary files on the target system via a symlink attack on the user mailbox.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-6253?: mail.local in NetBSD versions 6.0 through 6.0.6, 6.1 through 6.1.5, and 7.0 allows local users to change ownership of or append data to arbitrary files on the target system via a symlink attack on the user mailbox.
How severe is CVE-2016-6253?: CVE-2016-6253 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-2016-6253 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (88th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-6253?: CVE-2016-6253 primarily affects Netbsd. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-6253?: 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-2016-6253 published?: CVE-2016-6253 was published on 2017-01-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (14)

cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:6.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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