---
title: "CVE-2016-6321\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-2016-6321?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-6321

Publication date 28 October 2016

Last updated 7 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-6321?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the safer\_name\_suffix function in GNU
tar 1.14 through 1.29 might allow remote attackers to bypass an intended
protection mechanism and write to arbitrary files via vectors related to
improper sanitization of the file\_name parameter, aka POINTYFEATHER.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| tar | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 1.29b-1ubuntu0.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1.28-2.1ubuntu0.1 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 1.27.1-1ubuntu0.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 1.26-4ubuntu1.1 |

---

* [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-2016-6321?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 |
| --- | --- |
| tar | * Upstream:   [?id=734](http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/tar.git/commit/?id=7340f67b9860ea0531c1450e5aa261c50f67165d) * Other:   <https://sintonen.fi/advisories/tar-extract-pathname-bypass.patch> |

## 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-2016-6321)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6321)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-6321)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-6321)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3132-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3132-1)
+ tar vulnerability
+ 21 November 2016

### Other references

* <https://sintonen.fi/advisories/tar-extract-pathname-bypass.txt>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6321>