CVE-2016-6340: High severity red hat quickstart cloud installer vulnerability

Published Aug 25, 2016
·
Updated

The kickstart file in Red Hat QuickStart Cloud Installer (QCI) forces use of MD5 passwords on deployed systems, which makes it easier for attackers to determine cleartext passwords via a brute-force attack.

Other sources

The Red Hat QCI QE team reports:

The kickstart file used to deploy RHEL includes a configuration that forces MD5 passwords.

Red Hat

Affected Software

2 affected components
redhat Quickstart Cloud Installer
redhat Enterprise Linux

Event History

Aug 25, 2016
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·11:42 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 22, 2016
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:00 PM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2016-6340?

CVE-2016-6340 is considered a moderate severity vulnerability due to the use of MD5 passwords, which can expose cleartext passwords to potential attacks.

2

How do I fix CVE-2016-6340?

To fix CVE-2016-6340, it is recommended to configure the kickstart file to use stronger password hashing algorithms instead of MD5.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2016-6340?

CVE-2016-6340 affects the Red Hat QuickStart Cloud Installer due to its use of MD5 password hashing in deployed systems.

4

Can CVE-2016-6340 lead to unauthorized access?

Yes, CVE-2016-6340 can potentially lead to unauthorized access as attackers may exploit the weak MD5 password hashing to retrieve cleartext passwords.

5

Is Red Hat Enterprise Linux vulnerable to CVE-2016-6340?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux itself is not directly vulnerable; the vulnerability is specific to the deployment process using the Red Hat QuickStart Cloud Installer.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203