CVE-2016-2781
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent...
CVE-2016-2781 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Gnu Coreutils, published February 7, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.43%, the 37th percentile. Fixed in coreutils 9.4-1.
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List
4.6
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
CVE-2016-2781- CVSS 3.1
- 4.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2016-3855
4.6
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
EUVD-2016-3855- CVSS 3.1
- 4.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-vf3q-65gx-324p
6.5
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent...
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
GHSA-vf3q-65gx-324p- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
4.6
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
CVE-2016-2781- CVSS 3.1
- 4.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 2.1 Low
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-34628
6.5
CVE-2016-2781 affecting package coreutils for versions less than 9.4-1
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
AZL-34628- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-6355
6.5
CVE-2016-2781 affecting package coreutils for versions less than 8.32-1
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
AZL-6355- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
6.5
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
CVE-2016-2781- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-2781
6.5
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2016-2781- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-2781
4.6
chroot in GNU coreutils, when used with --userspec, allows local users to escape to the parent session via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's input buffer.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-2781- CVSS 3.1
- 4.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
coreutilsAzure Linux:3 |
before 9.4-1 | 9.4-1 |
coreutilsAzure Linux:2 |
before 8.32-1 | 8.32-1 |
coreutilsDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 9.1-19.10-19.4-19.4-29.4-3 Show 7 moreShow less9.4-3.19.5-19.6-19.6-29.7-19.7-29.7-3 |
None known |
coreutilsDebian:13 |
before 9.4-1 | 9.4-1 |
coreutilsDebian:14 |
before 9.4-1 | 9.4-1 |
coreutilsUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.20-3ubuntu58.21-1ubuntu38.21-1ubuntu48.21-1ubuntu58.21-1ubuntu5.18.21-1ubuntu5.38.21-1ubuntu5.4 |
None known |
coreutilsUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.23-4ubuntu28.25-2ubuntu28.25-2ubuntu3~16.04 |
None known |
coreutilsUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.26-3ubuntu48.28-1ubuntu1 |
None known |
coreutilsUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.30-3ubuntu2 |
None known |
coreutilsUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.32-4ubuntu28.32-4ubuntu38.32-4.1ubuntu18.32-4.1ubuntu1.18.32-4.1ubuntu1.28.32-4.1ubuntu1.38.32-4.1ubuntu1.4 |
None known |
coreutilsUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 9.1-1ubuntu29.4-2ubuntu19.4-2ubuntu29.4-2ubuntu39.4-2ubuntu4 Show 6 moreShow less9.4-3ubuntu39.4-3ubuntu59.4-3ubuntu69.4-3ubuntu6.19.4-3ubuntu6.29.4-3ubuntu6.3 |
None known |
coreutilsUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 9.5-1ubuntu19.5-1ubuntu1.25.10.19.5-1ubuntu29.5-1ubuntu39.5-1ubuntu49.5-1ubuntu4.1 |
None known |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/28/2
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/28/3
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf9fa47ab66495c78bb4120b0754dd9531ca2ff0430f6685ac9b07772%40%3Cdev.mina.apache.org%3E
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2781
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf9fa47ab66495c78bb4120b0754dd9531ca2ff0430f6685ac9b07772@%3Cdev.mina.apache.org%3E
github.com/advisories/GHSA-vf3q-65gx-324p