PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2016-6104 IBM CVE debrief
CVE-2016-6104 is an IBM key lifecycle manager file-upload vulnerability that could let a remote attacker upload arbitrary files and potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The issue was publicly disclosed on 2017-02-07 and is rated HIGH in NVD with a CVSS 3.0 score of 7.2.
- Vendor
- IBM
- Product
- Security Key Lifecycle Manager
- CVSS
- HIGH 7.2
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2017-02-07
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-05-13
- Advisory published
- 2017-02-07
- Advisory updated
- 2026-05-13
Who should care
Administrators and security teams responsible for IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager / IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager deployments in the affected 2.5 and 2.6 series should prioritize this issue, especially where administrative interfaces or upload-capable functions are exposed.
Technical summary
NVD describes the weakness as improper validation of file extensions, mapped to CWE-434 (unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type). The affected products listed in NVD include IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager 2.5.0 through 2.5.0.7 and 2.6.0 through 2.6.0.2. The CVSS 3.0 vector is AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating network reachability, low attack complexity, no user interaction, but high privileges required and potentially high impact.
Defensive priority
High
Recommended defensive actions
- Apply the IBM remediation referenced in the vendor advisory linked from NVD (ref-4).
- Inventory IBM Key Lifecycle Manager deployments and confirm whether any listed 2.5.x or 2.6.x builds are in use.
- Restrict access to administrative and file-upload functionality to trusted administrators only.
- Review application and system logs for unexpected uploads, extension mismatches, or other anomalous file activity.
- Remove or isolate affected systems until patched if the upload feature cannot be tightly controlled.
Evidence notes
The CVE description states that IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 2.5 and 2.6 could allow arbitrary file upload due to improper validation of file extensions, which could allow arbitrary code execution. NVD further lists affected IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager versions in the 2.5.x and 2.6.x series and maps the issue to CWE-434. The NVD CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) supports a high-severity assessment with required privileges but no user interaction.
Sources and references
Verified primary and authoritative sources
-
CVE-2016-6104 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6104
CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
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CVE-2016-6104 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6104
NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.
Methodology and review provenance
AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.