CVE-2017-6451
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4...
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4.3.94 does not properly handle the return value of the snprintf function, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds memory write.
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
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
7.8
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4.3.94 does not properly handle the return value of the snprintf function, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds memory write.
- Record
CVE-2017-6451- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.6 Medium
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4.3.94 does not properly handle the return value of the snprintf function, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds memory write.
- Record
CVE-2017-6451- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-15508 No score
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4.3.94 does not properly handle the return value of the snprintf function, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds memory write.
- Record
EUVD-2017-15508- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mg4x-c4g8-f6h5
7.8
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4...
The mx4200_send function in the legacy MX4200 refclock in NTP before 4.2.8p10 and 4.3.x before 4.3.94 does not properly handle the return value of the snprintf function, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds memory write.
- Record
GHSA-mg4x-c4g8-f6h5- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2017-0134 No score
Updated ntp packages fix security vulnerability
A vulnerability was found in NTP, in the legacy MX4200 refclock implementation. If this refclock was compiled in and used, an attacker may be able to induce stack overflow, leading to a crash or potential code execution (CVE-2017-6451).
A vulnerability was found in NTP, in the building of response packets with custom fields. If custom fields were configured in ntp.conf with particularly long names, inclusion of these fields in the response packet could cause a buffer overflow, leading to a crash (CVE-2017-6458).
A vulnerability was found in NTP, in the parsing of packets from the /dev/datum device. A malicious device could send crafted messages, causing ntpd to crash (CVE-2017-6462).
A vulnerability was discovered in the NTP server's parsing of configuration directives. A remote, authenticated attacker could cause ntpd to crash by sending a crafted message (CVE-2017-6463).
A vulnerability was discovered in the NTP server's parsing of configuration directives. A remote, authenticated attacker could cause ntpd to crash by sending a crafted message (CVE-2017-6464).
- Record
MGASA-2017-0134- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11102-1 No score
ntp-4.2.8p15-7.2 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the ntp-4.2.8p15-7.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11102-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2017:1047-1 No score
Security update for ntp
This ntp update to version 4.2.8p10 fixes serveral issues.
This updated enables leap smearing. See /usr/share/doc/packages/ntp/README.leapsmear for details.
Security issues fixed (bsc#1030050):
- CVE-2017-6464: Denial of Service via Malformed Config
- CVE-2017-6462: Buffer Overflow in DPTS Clock
- CVE-2017-6463: Authenticated DoS via Malicious Config Option
- CVE-2017-6458: Potential Overflows in ctl_put() functions
- CVE-2017-6451: Improper use of snprintf() in mx4200_send()
- CVE-2017-6460: Buffer Overflow in ntpq when fetching reslist
- CVE-2016-9042: 0rigin (zero origin) DoS.
- ntpq_stripquotes() returns incorrect Value
- ereallocarray()/eallocarray() underused
- Copious amounts of Unused Code
- Off-by-one in Oncore GPS Receiver
- Makefile does not enforce Security Flags
Bugfixes:
- Remove spurious log messages (bsc#1014172).
- clang scan-build findings
- Support for openssl-1.1.0 without compatibility modes
- Bugfix 3072 breaks multicastclient
- forking async worker: interrupted pipe I/O
- (...) time_pps_create: Exec format error
- Incorrect Logic for Peer Event Limiting
- Change the process name of forked DNS worker
- Trap Configuration Fail
- Nothing happens if minsane < maxclock < minclock
- allow -4/-6 on restrict line with mask
- out-of-bound pointers in ctl_putsys and decode_bitflags
- Move ntp-kod to /var/lib/ntp, because /var/db is not a standard directory and causes problems for transactional updates.
- Record
SUSE-SU-2017:1047-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2017:1048-1 No score
Security update for ntp
This ntp update to version 4.2.8p10 fixes serveral issues.
This updated enables leap smearing. See /usr/share/doc/packages/ntp/README.leapsmear for details.
Security issues fixed (bsc#1030050):
- CVE-2017-6464: Denial of Service via Malformed Config
- CVE-2017-6462: Buffer Overflow in DPTS Clock
- CVE-2017-6463: Authenticated DoS via Malicious Config Option
- CVE-2017-6458: Potential Overflows in ctl_put() functions
- CVE-2017-6451: Improper use of snprintf() in mx4200_send()
- CVE-2017-6460: Buffer Overflow in ntpq when fetching reslist
- CVE-2016-9042: 0rigin (zero origin) DoS.
- ntpq_stripquotes() returns incorrect Value
- ereallocarray()/eallocarray() underused
- Copious amounts of Unused Code
- Off-by-one in Oncore GPS Receiver
- Makefile does not enforce Security Flags
Bugfixes:
- Remove spurious log messages (bsc#1014172).
- clang scan-build findings
- Support for openssl-1.1.0 without compatibility modes
- Bugfix 3072 breaks multicastclient
- forking async worker: interrupted pipe I/O
- (...) time_pps_create: Exec format error
- Incorrect Logic for Peer Event Limiting
- Change the process name of forked DNS worker
- Trap Configuration Fail
- Nothing happens if minsane < maxclock < minclock
- allow -4/-6 on restrict line with mask
- out-of-bound pointers in ctl_putsys and decode_bitflags
- Move ntp-kod to /var/lib/ntp, because /var/db is not a standard directory and causes problems for transactional updates.
- Record
SUSE-SU-2017:1048-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2017:1052-1 No score
Security update for ntp
This ntp update to version 4.2.8p10 fixes the following issues:
Security issues fixed (bsc#1030050):
- CVE-2017-6464: Denial of Service via Malformed Config
- CVE-2017-6462: Buffer Overflow in DPTS Clock
- CVE-2017-6463: Authenticated DoS via Malicious Config Option
- CVE-2017-6458: Potential Overflows in ctl_put() functions
- CVE-2017-6451: Improper use of snprintf() in mx4200_send()
- CVE-2017-6460: Buffer Overflow in ntpq when fetching reslist
- CVE-2016-9042: 0rigin (zero origin) DoS.
- ntpq_stripquotes() returns incorrect Value
- ereallocarray()/eallocarray() underused
- Copious amounts of Unused Code
- Off-by-one in Oncore GPS Receiver
- Makefile does not enforce Security Flags
Bugfixes:
- Remove spurious log messages (bsc#1014172).
- Fixing ppc and ppc64 linker issue (bsc#1031085).
- clang scan-build findings
- Support for openssl-1.1.0 without compatibility modes
- Bugfix 3072 breaks multicastclient
- forking async worker: interrupted pipe I/O
- (...) time_pps_create: Exec format error
- Incorrect Logic for Peer Event Limiting
- Change the process name of forked DNS worker
- Trap Configuration Fail
- Nothing happens if minsane < maxclock < minclock
- allow -4/-6 on restrict line with mask
- out-of-bound pointers in ctl_putsys and decode_bitflags
- Move ntp-kod to /var/lib/ntp, because /var/db is not a standard directory and causes problems for transactional updates.
- Record
SUSE-SU-2017:1052-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
ntpMageia:5 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 4.2.6p5-24.8.mga5 | 4.2.6p5-24.8.mga5 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-46.23.1 | 4.2.8p10-46.23.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-46.23.1 | 4.2.8p10-46.23.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-60.1 | 4.2.8p10-60.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-63.1 | 4.2.8p10-63.1 |
ntpSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p10-63.1 | 4.2.8p10-63.1 |
ntpopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 18 CVEs |
before 4.2.8p15-7.2 | 4.2.8p15-7.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2017-6451 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Ntp, published March 27, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.48%, the 41st percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/NtpBug3378
securitytracker.com/id/1038123
securityfocus.com/bid/97058
support.apple.com/HT208144
securitytracker.com/id/1039427
support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice
Show 30 moreShow less
support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03962en_us
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-6451
github.com/advisories/GHSA-mg4x-c4g8-f6h5
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2017-0134.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=20595
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/4B7BMVXV53EE7XYW2KAVETDHTP452O3Z
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2017/suse-su-20171047-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1014172
bugzilla.suse.com/1030050
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-9042
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-6451
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-6458
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-6460
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-6462
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-6463
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-6464
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2017/suse-su-20171048-1
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2017/suse-su-20171052-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1031085
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-12327
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-7170
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-7182
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-7183
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-7184
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-7185
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-8956
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-8936
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-11868
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-13817
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15025