CVE-2016-10213 A10networks CVE debrief

Who should care

Administrators and security teams responsible for A10 devices or software that may be running affected versions before 2.7.2-P8, especially where the system handles sensitive encrypted sessions or is exposed to untrusted networks.

Technical summary

The vulnerability centers on incorrect GCM nonce generation. GCM depends on nonce uniqueness; if a nonce is reused within a session, the confidentiality and authenticity guarantees can weaken. The CVE record says this can enable remote attackers to obtain the authentication key and spoof data, similar to CVE-2016-0270. NVD lists CVSS 3.0 vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, which aligns with a network-reachable information disclosure issue rather than a direct integrity or availability impact.

Defensive priority

Medium. Treat as a priority for any exposed or sensitive A10 deployment, but the record does not indicate active exploitation and NVD’s complexity rating is high. Focus first on systems confirmed to be in the affected version range.

Recommended defensive actions

• Inventory A10 systems and confirm exact model, software train, and version against the affected range described in the CVE/NVD record.
• Upgrade or remediate to a vendor-fixed release at or above the documented safe version boundary; the CVE description references software before 2.7.2-P8, and NVD’s CPE criteria include versions through 2.7.2.
• Review whether affected devices are used for security-sensitive encrypted sessions and limit exposure from untrusted networks until patched.
• If you suspect exposure, investigate for anomalous authentication or session behavior and follow vendor guidance for secret or credential rotation where appropriate.

Evidence notes

The summary is based on the published CVE description and the official NVD record. The CVE text explicitly mentions A10 AX1030, software before 2.7.2-P8, random GCM nonce generation, nonce reuse in a session, and a forbidden attack similar to CVE-2016-0270. NVD adds the CVSS vector, the CWE-200 classification, and vulnerable CPE criteria for A10 Advanced Core Operating System up to 2.7.2. Supporting references include the A10 Networks blog post on CVE-2016-0270, the nonce-disrespect GitHub reference, and SecurityFocus BID 96163.

Official resources