---
title: "CVE-2016-2779\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2779?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-2779

Publication date 7 February 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2779?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

runuser in util-linux allows local users to escape to the parent session
via a crafted TIOCSTI ioctl call, which pushes characters to the terminal's
input buffer.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2779?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| util-linux | 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 21.04 hirsute | Not affected |
| 20.10 groovy | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Not affected |
| 19.04 disco | Not affected |
| 18.10 cosmic | Not affected |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 17.10 artful | Ignored end of life |
| 17.04 zesty | Ignored end of life |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Ignored end of standard support, was needed |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2779?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

2.31 introduced a --pty option that can be used

---

### [eslerm](https://launchpad.net/~eslerm)

upstream revereted their patch
backporting 2.31's optional --pty flag has high risk potential

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| util-linux | * Upstream:   [8e49250](https://github.com/karelzak/util-linux/commit/8e4925016875c6a4f2ab4f833ba66f0fc57396a2) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-2779)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2779)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-2779)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2779)

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/27/1>
* <http://marc.info/?l=util-linux-ng&m=145694736107128&w=2>
* <https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/a0a8e9884443601abf9f06b715f2f6bb0820cbad>
* <https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/23f75093264aae5d58d61016cb1a29d8ebdfa157>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2779>