# CVE-2016-7407 — Dropbear Ssh

> As of 2024-08-06, CVE-2016-7407 is a CRITICAL-severity vulnerability in Dropbear Ssh, CVSS v3.1 9.8, EPSS 5.5% (92.1th percentile). Threadlinqs Intelligence links 1 tracked threat campaign to CVE-2016-7407, most recently “Russian Intelligence Services Hijack Unsecured IP Cameras Across NATO, EU and Ukraine to Surveil Weapons Deliveries (AIVD/MIVD Advisory, Censys Analysis)”.

**Last updated:** 2024-08-06

## What is CVE-2016-7407?

The dropbearconvert command in Dropbear SSH before 2016.74 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted OpenSSH key file.

The record classifies CVE-2016-7407 under weakness class [CWE-20](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cwe/CWE-20). Its CVSS v3 base vector states that the flaw is reachable remotely over the network, needs no prior authentication, needs no user interaction, and has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability. 1 affected-product entry is recorded, across 1 vendor, listed below. The identifier was first published 3503 days ago.

## Severity and exploitation probability

- **CVSS v3.1 base score:** 9.8 — CRITICAL (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **EPSS (FIRST):** 5.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 92.1% of all scored CVEs
- **CISA KEV:** Not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- **Threadlinqs priority:** 10/10 — a Threadlinqs composite of the CVSS base score, the EPSS percentile and public exploit availability
- **Published:** 2017-03-03, last modified 2024-08-06

## Is CVE-2016-7407 being exploited?

Weaponised exploit code for CVE-2016-7407 is publicly available. 1 public proof-of-concept repository is tracked for this identifier.

- [trickest/cve](https://github.com/trickest/cve/blob/main/2016/CVE-2016-7407.md) (trickest)

## Affected products and versions

- **Dropbear Ssh Project**: Dropbear Ssh

## How to fix CVE-2016-7407

The record marks a vendor fix as available for CVE-2016-7407. Patch reference: [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/2](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/2). Apply the vendor fix referenced above to every affected product listed in this record, then confirm the running version against the vendor advisory.

## Threat activity tracking CVE-2016-7407

1 tracked threat in the Threadlinqs corpus references CVE-2016-7407, either in the campaign’s CVE list or as an indicator on the campaign record.

- [Russian Intelligence Services Hijack Unsecured IP Cameras Across NATO, EU and Ukraine to Surveil Weapons Deliveries (AIVD/MIVD Advisory, Censys Analysis)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1624) — HIGH · 2026-07-22

## Sources

Enriched from CVE.org, NVD, FIRST EPSS, GitHub Security Advisories, public proof-of-concept repositories. Last verified by Threadlinqs on 2026-08-17. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

**Vendor advisory and patch**

- [security.gentoo.org — vendor advisory](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-23)
- [secure.ucc.asn.au](https://secure.ucc.asn.au/hg/dropbear/rev/34e6127ef02e)
- [bugzilla.redhat.com](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1376353)

**Vulnerability database entry**

- [securityfocus.com — vdb entry](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92972)

**Mailing list and disclosure**

- [openwall.com — mailing list](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/2)

Canonical: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2016-7407
Full detection coverage and IOCs for threats exploiting CVE-2016-7407 via the Threadlinqs MCP server (Purple tier): https://intel.threadlinqs.com/mcp