How severe is CVE-2016-6301?

CVE-2016-6301 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-6301 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 9% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-6301?

CVE-2016-6301 affects Busybox. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-6301?

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-2016-6301 published?

CVE-2016-6301 was published on 2016-12-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-6301

CVE-2016-6301 is a high-severity vulnerability in Busybox with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. 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-399.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 7.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 9% (95th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-399
Affected product: Busybox
Published: 2016-12-09
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The recv_and_process_client_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandwidth consumption) via a forged NTP packet, which triggers a communication loop.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-6301?: The recv_and_process_client_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandwidth consumption) via a forged NTP packet, which triggers a communication loop.
How severe is CVE-2016-6301?: CVE-2016-6301 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-6301 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 9% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-6301?: CVE-2016-6301 affects Busybox. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-6301?: 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-2016-6301 published?: CVE-2016-6301 was published on 2016-12-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:busybox:busybox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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