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CVE Record

CVE-2016-10729: An issue was discovered in Amanda 3.3.1.

An issue was discovered in Amanda 3.3.1. A user with backup privileges can trivially compromise a client installation. The "runtar" setuid root binary does not check for additional arguments supplied after --create, allowing users to manipulate commands and perform command injection as root.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2016-10729 affects Amanda 3.3.1 backup client installations. A user who already has backup privileges can abuse a setuid root helper called runtar to run unintended commands as root. This is mainly an insider or compromised-account risk, but root compromise of backup clients can have serious operational impact.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for environments using Amanda 3.3.1, especially where backup clients hold sensitive data or broad filesystem access. The business risk is local root compromise through a backup-privileged account, not unauthenticated remote takeover based on the provided evidence.

Technical view

The issue is in Amanda 3.3.1's runtar setuid root binary. The CVE states it fails to check additional arguments after --create, enabling command injection as root by a backup-privileged user. The provided sources do not include CVSS, CWE, affected-version range beyond 3.3.1, or vendor remediation details.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to systems running Amanda 3.3.1 client components where local users or service accounts have backup privileges and runtar is setuid root. The bundle does not prove other Amanda versions are affected.

Exploitation context

The source bundle includes an Exploit-DB reference, so public exploit material exists. CISA KEV status is false in the provided data, and no cited source states active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse. The CVE description identifies the vulnerable component and privilege boundary, while Exploit-DB indicates public exploit availability. There is no bundled CVSS, CWE, full affected-version range, patch reference, or confirmed exploitation source, so remediation should be anchored to vendor guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify Amanda 3.3.1 clients and prioritize systems with sensitive backup access.
  • Check current Amanda vendor guidance for fixed versions or supported configuration changes.
  • Restrict backup privileges to trusted administrative or service accounts only.
  • Where operationally safe, remove unnecessary local access to Amanda backup clients.
  • Review setuid root helper exposure and disable unsafe use only with vendor-supported guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Amanda installations and confirm whether version 3.3.1 is present.
  • Check whether runtar is present and installed with setuid root permissions.
  • Review local users, groups, and service accounts with Amanda backup privileges.
  • Confirm whether vendor documentation identifies a patched version or supported workaround.
  • Look for suspicious privileged activity on Amanda client hosts.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2016-10729 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.