HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2015-8816

MEDIUM

CVE-2015-8816

NVD-CWE-OtherPublished: April 27, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

6.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The hub_activate function in drivers/usb/core/hub.c in the Linux kernel before 4.3.5 does not properly maintain a hub-interface data structure, which allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory access and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact by unplugging a USB hub device.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2015-8816 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 6.8.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorPhysical

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.None

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

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

Affected Vendors & Products

Linux1 product(s)

linux kernel

novell8 product(s)

suse linux enterprise software development kitsuse linux enterprise debuginfosuse linux enterprise desktopsuse linux enterprise live patchingsuse linux enterprise module for public cloudsuse linux enterprise real time extensionsuse linux enterprise serversuse linux enterprise workstation extension

SUSE2 product(s)

linux enterprise live patchinglinux enterprise server

Source: NVD CPE · 14 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/e50293ef9775c5f1cf3fcc093037dd6a8c5684ea

PATCHhttps://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/e50293ef9775c5f1cf3fcc093037dd6a8c5684ea

ADVISORYhttp://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e50293ef9775c5f1cf3fcc093037dd6a8c5684ea

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00019.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00052.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00054.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00059.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-07/msg00005.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00003.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00008.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00009.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00015.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00016.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00018.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00019.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00020.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00021.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00022.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00026.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00038.html

ADVISORYhttp://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-07-01.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3503

ADVISORYhttp://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.3.5

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinoct2016-3090547.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/83363

ADVISORYhttp://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e50293ef9775c5f1cf3fcc093037dd6a8c5684ea

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00019.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00052.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00054.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00059.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-07/msg00005.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00003.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00008.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00009.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00015.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00016.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00018.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00019.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00020.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00021.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00022.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00026.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00038.html

ADVISORYhttp://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-07-01.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3503

ADVISORYhttp://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.3.5

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinoct2016-3090547.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/83363

All References (54)

→

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e50293ef9775c5f1cf3fcc093037dd6a8c5684eaVendor Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00019.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00052.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00054.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00059.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-07/msg00005.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00003.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00008.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00009.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00015.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00016.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00018.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00019.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00020.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00021.htmlThird Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2015-8816

CVSS Score6.8 / 10

SeverityMEDIUM

WeaknessNVD-CWE-Other

CISA KEVNo

Affected3 vendor(s)

PublishedApr 27, 2016

Related CVEs (NVD-CWE-Other)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2015-8816 in threat intel feeds
→Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts

Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

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