---
title: "CVE-2016-5008\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-2016-5008?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-5008

Publication date 13 July 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5008?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

libvirt before 2.0.0 improperly disables password checking when the
password on a VNC server is set to an empty string, which allows remote
attackers to bypass authentication and establish a VNC session by
connecting to the server.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5008?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| libvirt | 21.04 hirsute | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 19.10 eoan | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 19.04 disco | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 18.10 cosmic | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 2.1.0-1.ubuntu1 |
| 17.10 artful | Fixed 2.1.0-1ubuntu1 |
| 17.04 zesty | Ignored end of life |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1.3.1-1ubuntu10.19 |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 1.2.2-0ubuntu13.1.26 |
| 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-2016-5008?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

vnc password authentication isn't strong and isn't recommended
so setting priority to low to bundle with another update

---

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

this CVE was original patched in unstable 2.0.0-1.

### 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 |
| --- | --- |
| libvirt | * Upstream:   <http://libvirt.org/git/?p=libvirt.git;a=commit;h=bb848feec0f3f10e92dd8e5231ae7aa89b5598f3> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-5008)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5008)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-5008)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-5008)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3576-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3576-1)
+ libvirt vulnerabilities
+ 20 February 2018

### Other references

* <https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1180092>
* <http://security.libvirt.org/2016/0001.html>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5008>