How severe is CVE-2016-6321?

CVE-2016-6321 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 high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2016-6321 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-6321?

CVE-2016-6321 primarily affects Gnu Tar. In total, 21 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-6321?

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-2016-6321 published?

CVE-2016-6321 was published on 2016-12-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-6321

CVE-2016-6321 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Tar with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 15% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-22.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 5.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 15% (96th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-22
Affected product: Gnu Tar
Published: 2016-12-09
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar 1.14 through 1.29 might allow remote attackers to bypass an intended protection mechanism and write to arbitrary files via vectors related to improper sanitization of the file_name parameter, aka POINTYFEATHER.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-6321?: Directory traversal vulnerability in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar 1.14 through 1.29 might allow remote attackers to bypass an intended protection mechanism and write to arbitrary files via vectors related to improper sanitization of the file_name parameter, aka POINTYFEATHER.
How severe is CVE-2016-6321?: CVE-2016-6321 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 high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2016-6321 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-6321?: CVE-2016-6321 primarily affects Gnu Tar. In total, 21 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-6321?: 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-2016-6321 published?: CVE-2016-6321 was published on 2016-12-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (21)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.15.90:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.15.91:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.27.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.28:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar:1.29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Gnu Tar

CVE-2005-2541 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Tar 1.15.1 does not properly warn the user when extracting setuid or setgid files, which may allow local users or…
CVE-2019-9923 — High (CVSS 7.5): pax_decode_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer dereference when parsing certain archives that…
CVE-2007-4476 — High (CVSS 7.5): Buffer overflow in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar has unspecified attack vectors and impact, resulting in a…
CVE-2010-0624 — Medium (CVSS 6.8): Heap-based buffer overflow in the rmt_read__ function in lib/rtapelib.c in the rmt client functionality in GNU tar…
CVE-2007-4131 — Medium (CVSS 6.8): Directory traversal vulnerability in the contains_dot_dot function in src/names.c in GNU tar allows user-assisted…
CVE-2023-39804 — Medium (CVSS 6.2): In GNU tar before 1.35, mishandled extension attributes in a PAX archive can lead to an application crash in xheader.c.

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