HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-3176
MEDIUM

CVE-2016-3176

CWE-287Published: January 31, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

5.6
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Salt before 2015.5.10 and 2015.8.x before 2015.8.8, when PAM external authentication is enabled, allows attackers to bypass the configured authentication service by passing an alternate service with a command sent to LocalClient.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-3176 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-287): Authentication bypass vulnerabilities allow attackers to access protected resources without valid credentials.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityLow
IntegrityLow
AvailabilityLow
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

Affected Vendors & Products

saltstack1 product(s)
salt
Source: NVD CPE · 8 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

ADVISORYhttps://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.5.10.html
ADVISORYhttps://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.8.8.html
ADVISORYhttps://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.5.10.html
ADVISORYhttps://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.8.8.html

All References (4)

→
https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.5.10.htmlRelease Notes · Vendor Advisory
→
https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.8.8.htmlRelease Notes · Vendor Advisory
→
https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.5.10.htmlRelease Notes · Vendor Advisory
→
https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2015.8.8.htmlRelease Notes · Vendor Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2016-3176
CVSS Score5.6 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-287
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedJan 31, 2017

Related CVEs (CWE-287)

CVE-1999-0987
10.0
CVE-2026-45480
10.0
CVE-2026-41070
10.0
CVE-2026-46389
10.0
CVE-2026-49197
10.0
CVE-2025-15586
10.0

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2016-3176 in threat intel feeds
  • →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.
← All Vulnerabilities·Search for CVE-2016-3176·NVD