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NVD / CVE Program· CNA mitre

CVE-2015-7703: The "pidfile" or "driftfile" directives in NTP ntpd 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77, when ntpd is configured to allow remote…

HighCVSS 7.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 31/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 3.8% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 90.2% of all records.
  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: ntp (Debian:11) 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-1; ntp (Debian:6.0) 1:4.2.6.p2+dfsg-1+deb6u4; ntp (Debian:7) 1:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-2+deb7u6.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to ntp (Debian:11) 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-1; ntp (Debian:6.0) 1:4.2.6.p2+dfsg-1+deb6u4; ntp (Debian:7) 1:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-2+deb7u6 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

The "pidfile" or "driftfile" directives in NTP ntpd 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77, when ntpd is configured to allow remote configuration, allows remote attackers with an IP address that is allowed to send configuration requests, and with knowledge of the remote configuration password to write to arbitrary files via the :config command.

Published
Jul 24, 2017
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
3.8% · 90th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

31

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
1 / 30 · 3.8%

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

Follow CVE-2015-7703

When you'll hear from us

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  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
ntpntp
oraclelinux
debiandebian linux
netapponcommand performance manager
netapponcommand unified manager
netappclustered data ontap
netappdata ontap
redhatenterprise linux desktop
redhatenterprise linux server
redhatenterprise linux server aus
redhatenterprise linux server eus
redhatenterprise linux server tus

and 1 more

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • debian debian linux7.0
  • debian debian linux8.0
  • debian debian linux9.0
  • netapp clustered data ontapall versions
  • netapp data ontapall versions
  • netapp oncommand performance managerall versions
  • netapp oncommand unified managerall versions
  • ntp ntp4.2.0 and later · before 4.2.8
+12 more rows
  • ntp ntp4.3.0 and later · before 4.3.77
  • ntp ntp4.2.8
  • oracle linux6
  • redhat enterprise linux desktop6.0
  • redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server6.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.3
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.4
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.6
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.7
  • redhat enterprise linux server eus7.3

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:11ntpbefore 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-11:4.2.8p4+dfsg-1
Debian:6.0ntpbefore 1:4.2.6.p2+dfsg-1+deb6u41:4.2.6.p2+dfsg-1+deb6u4
Debian:7ntpbefore 1:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-2+deb7u61:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-2+deb7u6
Debian:8ntpbefore 1:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-7+deb8u11:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-7+deb8u1
openSUSE:Tumbleweedntpbefore 4.2.8p9-1.14.2.8p9-1.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientntpbefore 0:4.2.6p5-10.el60:4.2.6p5-10.el6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientntp-debuginfobefore 0:4.2.6p5-10.el60:4.2.6p5-10.el6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientntp-docbefore 0:4.2.6p5-10.el60:4.2.6p5-10.el6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientntp-perlbefore 0:4.2.6p5-10.el60:4.2.6p5-10.el6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientntpdatebefore 0:4.2.6p5-10.el60:4.2.6p5-10.el6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientntpbefore 0:4.2.6p5-25.el70:4.2.6p5-25.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientntp-debuginfobefore 0:4.2.6p5-25.el70:4.2.6p5-25.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientntp-docbefore 0:4.2.6p5-25.el70:4.2.6p5-25.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientntp-perlbefore 0:4.2.6p5-25.el70:4.2.6p5-25.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientntpdatebefore 0:4.2.6p5-25.el70:4.2.6p5-25.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientsntpbefore 0:4.2.6p5-25.el70:4.2.6p5-25.el7
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4ntpbefore 4.2.8p4-5.14.2.8p4-5.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12ntpbefore 4.2.8p6-46.5.24.2.8p6-46.5.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12yast2-ntp-clientbefore 3.1.12.4-8.23.1.12.4-8.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2-LTSSyast2-ntp-clientbefore 2.17.14.1-1.12.12.17.14.1-1.12.1
SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 5ntpbefore 4.2.8p6-41.14.2.8p6-41.1

Same product

ntp: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2015-7871Crypto-NAK packets in ntpd in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
    64This week
  • CVE-2014-9295Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in ntpd in NTP before 4.2.8 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted packet…
    54Plan
  • CVE-2013-5211The monlist feature in ntp_request.c in ntpd in NTP before 4.2.7p26 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (traffic…
    49Plan

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2015-5219Jul 21, 2017 · The ULOGTOD function in ntp.d in SNTP before 4.2.7p366 does not properly perform type conversions from a precision value to a double, which…
    32Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2015-5300Jul 21, 2017 · The panic_gate check in NTP before 4.2.8p5 is only re-enabled after the first change to the system clock that was greater than 128…
    33Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2015-7691Aug 7, 2017 · The crypto_xmit function in ntpd in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service…
    32Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
debian:ntp1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-1 · Debian:11Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:ntp4.2.8p9-1.1 · openSUSE:TumbleweedPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ntp0:4.2.6p5-10.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ntp-debuginfo0:4.2.6p5-10.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ntp-doc0:4.2.6p5-10.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ntp-perl0:4.2.6p5-10.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ntpdate0:4.2.6p5-10.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:sntp0:4.2.6p5-25.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
suse:ntp4.2.8p4-5.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4Package registry (OSV)
suse:yast2-ntp-client3.1.12.4-8.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
none
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
None

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-20 · Improper Input Validation

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

References

Show all references (9 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records