---
title: "CVE-2016-4477\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-2016-4477?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-4477

Publication date 9 May 2016

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-2016-4477?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

wpa\_supplicant 0.4.0 through 2.5 does not reject \n and \r characters in
passphrase parameters, which allows local users to trigger arbitrary
library loading and consequently gain privileges, or cause a denial of
service (daemon outage), via a crafted (1) SET, (2) SET\_CRED, or (3)
SET\_NETWORK command.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| hostapd | 21.04 hirsute | Not in release |
| 20.10 groovy | Not in release |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release |
| 19.10 eoan | Not in release |
| 19.04 disco | Not in release |
| 18.10 cosmic | Not in release |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not in release |
| 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| wpa | 21.04 hirsute | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 19.10 eoan | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 19.04 disco | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 18.10 cosmic | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 17.10 artful | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu10 |
| 17.04 zesty | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu9.1 |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 2.4-0ubuntu6.2 |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.1-0ubuntu1.5 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| wpasupplicant | 21.04 hirsute | Not in release |
| 20.10 groovy | Not in release |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release |
| 19.10 eoan | Not in release |
| 19.04 disco | Not in release |
| 18.10 cosmic | Not in release |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not in release |
| 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |

---

* [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-2016-4477?format=md#patch-details)

### 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 |
| --- | --- |
| wpa | * Upstream:   <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/0001-WPS-Reject-a-Credential-with-invalid-passphrase.patch> * Upstream:   <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/0002-Reject-psk-parameter-set-with-invalid-passphrase-cha.patch> * Upstream:   <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/0003-Remove-newlines-from-wpa_supplicant-config-network-o.patch> * Upstream:   <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/0004-Reject-SET_CRED-commands-with-newline-characters-in-.patch> * Upstream:   <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/0005-Reject-SET-commands-with-newline-characters-in-the-s.patch> |

## 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 | None |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | 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:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-4477)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4477)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-4477)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-4477)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3455-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3455-1)
+ wpa\_supplicant and hostapd vulnerabilities
+ 16 October 2017

### Other references

* <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/>
* <http://w1.fi/security/2016-1/psk-parameter-config-update.txt>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4477>