CVE-2016-2178

The dsa_sign_setup function in crypto/dsa/dsa_ossl.c in OpenSSL through 1.0.2h does not properly ensure the use of constant-time operations, which makes it easier for local users to discover a DSA private key via a timing side-channel attack.

Published: 2016-06-20 Last update: 2026-05-06 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Modified，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2016-2178 is rated Low Risk (37.4/100): CVSS Medium severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.22%). Monitor for updates and reassess as exploit intelligence or EPSS changes.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2016-2178

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-03-03 0.25% 0.22% -0.04%
2 2026-03-01 0.21% 0.25% +0.04%
3 2026-02-04 — 0.21% —

Full EPSS history (25 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2016-2178

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
5.5 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:N)
Service keeps running; no real outage angle.
 1.8 3.6 [email protected]
2.1 2.0 LOW
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N Click to expand
Access vector (AV:L)
Requires local access to the target system.
Access complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P)
Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:N)
No integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:N)
No availability impact.
 3.9 2.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2016-2178

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-2178

vendor priority summary link
debian low CVE-2016-2178 low priority: Debian including 1 source packages (openssl), 5 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 5. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2178
gentoo normal CVE-2016-2178: 1 GLSA(s) (201612-16), 1 atom(s) (dev-libs/openssl); latest impact normal. https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2016-2178
redhat medium — https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2178
suse medium CVE-2016-2178 severity moderate: SUSE including 553 source package names (MozillaFirefox-68.2.0-78.51.4, MozillaFirefox-branding-SLED-68-21.9.8, …), 1369 product×package rows across 131 product lines (HPE Helion OpenStack 8, Image SLES12-SP5-Azure-SAP-BYOS, … (131 product lines)): Fixed 616, Known Not Affected 596, Known Affected 157. https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2178/
ubuntu low CVE-2016-2178 low priority: Ubuntu including 2 source packages (openssl, openssl098), 22 status rows across 11 suites (artful, bionic, cosmic, disco, precise, trusty, upstream, wily, xenial, yakkety, zesty): released 10, DNE 9, ignored 2, needs-triage 1. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2178

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-2178

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
openssl openssl 1.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1a cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1b cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1c cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1d cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1d:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1e cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1f cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1f:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1g cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1g:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1h cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1h:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1i cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1i:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1j cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1j:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1k cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1k:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1l cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1l:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1m cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1m:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1n cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1n:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1o cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1o:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1p cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1p:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1q cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1q:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1r cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1r:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1s cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1s:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.1t cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.1t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2 cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2a cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2b cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2c cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2d cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2d:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2e cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2f cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2f:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2g cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2g:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
openssl openssl 1.0.2h cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.0.2h:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle linux 5 cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle linux 6 cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle linux 7 cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle solaris 10 cpe:2.3:o:oracle:solaris:10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle solaris 11.3 cpe:2.3:o:oracle:solaris:11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
suse linux_enterprise 12.0 cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
nodejs node.js >= 0.10.0, < 0.10.47 cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
nodejs node.js >= 0.12.0, < 0.12.16 cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
nodejs node.js >= 4.0.0, <= 4.1.2 cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
nodejs node.js >= 4.2.0, < 4.6.0 cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
nodejs node.js >= 5.0.0, < 6.7.0 cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
debian debian_linux 8.0 cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
canonical ubuntu_linux 12.04 cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
canonical ubuntu_linux 14.04 cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
canonical ubuntu_linux 16.04 cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*

References for CVE-2016-2178

URL Tags
http://eprint.iacr.org/2016/594.pdf Technical Description Third Party Advisory
http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10759 Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-09/msg00022.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-09/msg00023.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-09/msg00024.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-09/msg00031.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-10/msg00005.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-10/msg00011.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-10/msg00012.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-10/msg00013.html Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-10/msg00021.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-10/msg00029.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00010.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00011.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2018-02/msg00032.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1940.html Third Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.html Third Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-1659.html Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Jul/31 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20160927-openssl Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21995039 Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3673 Third Party Advisory
http://www.huawei.com/en/psirt/security-advisories/huawei-sa-20170322-01-openssl-en Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/10 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/11 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/12 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/2 Mailing List Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/4 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/5 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/6 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/7 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/08/8 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/09/2 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/09/8 Mailing List Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinapr2016-2952098.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinoct2016-3090547.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91081 Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036054 Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.splunk.com/view/SP-CAAAPSV Third Party Advisory
http://www.splunk.com/view/SP-CAAAPUE Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3087-1 Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3087-2 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0193 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0194 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1658 Third Party Advisory
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa132 Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1343400 Issue Tracking Patch
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf
https://git.openssl.org/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=399944622df7bd81af62e67ea967c470534090e2
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c05302448 Third Party Advisory
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05302448 Third Party Advisory
https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA40312 Third Party Advisory
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10215 Third Party Advisory
https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/september-2016-security-releases/ Third Party Advisory
https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-16:26.openssl.asc Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-16 Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K53084033 Third Party Advisory
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03856en_us Third Party Advisory
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03856en_us Third Party Advisory
https://www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/1749-security-advisory-24 Third Party Advisory
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-16 Third Party Advisory
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-20 Third Party Advisory
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-21 Third Party Advisory
cvelogic Threat Intelligence