CVE-2016-7973
CVE-2016-7973 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Tcpdump 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: 7.5
- EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (86th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-119
- Affected product: Tcpdump
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
The AppleTalk parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-atalk.c, multiple functions.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2016-7973?
- The AppleTalk parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-atalk.c, multiple functions.
- How severe is CVE-2016-7973?
- CVE-2016-7973 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-2016-7973 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2016-7973?
- CVE-2016-7973 affects Tcpdump. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2016-7973?
- 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-2016-7973 published?
- CVE-2016-7973 was published on 2017-01-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3775
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95852
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037755
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1871
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-30
- https://www.mail-archive.com/debian-bugs-dist%40lists.debian.org/msg1494526.html
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:tcpdump:tcpdump:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Tcpdump
- CVE-2018-10105 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): tcpdump before 4.9.3 mishandles the printing of SMB data (issue 2 of 2).
- CVE-2018-10103 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): tcpdump before 4.9.3 mishandles the printing of SMB data (issue 1 of 2).
- CVE-2017-13725 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The IPv6 routing header parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-rt6.c:rt6_print().
- CVE-2017-13690 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The IKEv2 parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-isakmp.c, several functions.
- CVE-2017-13689 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The IKEv1 parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-isakmp.c:ikev1_id_print().
- CVE-2017-13688 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The OLSR parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-olsr.c:olsr_print().
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