---
title: "CVE-2016-6301\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-2016-6301?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-6301

Publication date 9 December 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-6301?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The recv\_and\_process\_client\_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox
allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandwidth
consumption) via a forged NTP packet, which triggers a communication loop.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-6301?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| busybox | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 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-2016-6301?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

ntp server not built in ubuntu/debian busybox packages.

### 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 |
| --- | --- |
| busybox | * Upstream:   [?id=150](https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=150dc7a2b483b8338a3e185c478b4b23ee884e71) |

## 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 | None |
  | Availability impact | High |
* 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:N/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-6301)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6301)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-6301)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-6301)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6301>