CVE-2016-20046
CWE-787Published: March 28, 2026· Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Official Description
zFTP Client 20061220+dfsg3-4.1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the NAME parameter handling of FTP connections that allows local attackers to crash the application or execute arbitrary code. Attackers can supply an oversized NAME value exceeding the 80-byte buffer allocated in strcpy_chk to overwrite the instruction pointer and execute shellcode with user privileges.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2016-20046 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.4.
From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-787): Out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities can lead to data corruption, crashes, or arbitrary code execution.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (3)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-787)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2016-20046 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts