---
title: "CVE-2016-7091\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-2016-7091?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-7091

Publication date 22 December 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**4.4 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-7091?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

sudo: It was discovered that the default sudo configuration on Red Hat
Enterprise Linux and possibly other Linux implementations preserves the
value of INPUTRC which could lead to information disclosure. A local user
with sudo access to a restricted program that uses readline could use this
flaw to read content from specially formatted files with elevated
privileges provided by sudo.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-7091?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| sudo | 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)

## Notes

---

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

INPUTRC isn't included in debian/ubuntu, rh-specific

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

4.4 · Medium

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 4.4 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7091)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7091)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-7091)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-7091)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7091>