---
title: "CVE-2016-6255\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-2016-6255?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-6255

Publication date 7 March 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**High**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-6255?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

Portable UPnP SDK (aka libupnp) before 1.6.21 allows remote attackers to
write to arbitrary files in the webroot via a POST request without a
registered handler.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

Matthew Garrett discovered that libupnp mishandled POST requests by default. An
attacker could use this vulnerability to write files to arbitrary locations in
the victim's filesystem, possibly as root.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| libupnp | 22.04 LTS jammy | Not in release |
| 21.10 impish | Not in release |
| 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 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 | Fixed 1:1.6.19+git20160116-1ubuntu0.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 1:1.6.17-1.2+deb7u1build0.14.04.1 |
| 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)

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## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-6255)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6255)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-6255)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-6255)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-4794-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-4794-1)
+ libupnp vulnerabilities
+ 15 March 2021

### Other references

* <https://twitter.com/mjg59/status/755062278513319936>
* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/18/13>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6255>