---
title: "CVE-2016-7072\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-2016-7072?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-7072

Publication date 10 September 2018

Last updated 26 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.3 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-7072?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

An issue has been found in PowerDNS Authoritative Server before 3.4.11 and
4.0.2 allowing a remote, unauthenticated attacker to cause a denial of
service by opening a large number of TCP connections to the web server. If
the web server runs out of file descriptors, it triggers an exception and
terminates the whole PowerDNS process. While it's more complicated for an
unauthorized attacker to make the web server run out of file descriptors
since its connection will be closed just after being accepted, it might
still be possible.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pdns | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not affected |
| 25.10 questing | Not affected |
| 25.04 plucky | Not affected |
| 24.10 oracular | Not affected |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not affected |
| 23.10 mantic | Not affected |
| 23.04 lunar | Not affected |
| 22.10 kinetic | Not affected |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 21.04 hirsute | Not affected |
| 20.10 groovy | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Not affected |
| 19.04 disco | Not affected |
| 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 | Vulnerable |
| 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)

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.3 · Medium

* 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 | Low |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.3 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7072)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7072)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-7072)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-7072)

### Other references

* <https://doc.powerdns.com/md/security/powerdns-advisory-2016-03/>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7072>