HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-4997

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CVE-2016-4997

CWE-264Published: July 3, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The compat IPT_SO_SET_REPLACE and IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE setsockopt implementations in the netfilter subsystem in the Linux kernel before 4.6.3 allow local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by leveraging in-container root access to provide a crafted offset value that triggers an unintended decrement.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-4997 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

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 7.8.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2016-4997. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorLocal

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.Low

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

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

Affected Vendors & Products

Canonical1 product(s)

ubuntu linux

Debian1 product(s)

debian linux

Linux1 product(s)

linux kernel

novell7 product(s)

suse linux enterprise software development kitsuse 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

Oracle1 product(s)

linux

Source: NVD CPE · 14 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists

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/ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13c

PATCHhttps://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13c

ADVISORYhttp://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13c

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00060.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00061.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00000.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00027.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00044.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00048.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00050.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00051.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00052.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00053.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00054.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00055.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1883.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607

ADVISORYhttp://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.3

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/24/5

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/29/10

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

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.html

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

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91451

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036171

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-3

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-4

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-3

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3018-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3018-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3019-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3020-1

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1349722

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/nccgroup/TriforceLinuxSyscallFuzzer/tree/master/crash_reports/report_compatIpt

ADVISORYhttps://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05347541

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40435/

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40489/

ADVISORYhttp://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13c

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00060.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00061.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00000.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00027.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00044.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00048.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00050.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00051.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00052.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00053.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00054.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00055.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1883.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607

ADVISORYhttp://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.3

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/24/5

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/29/10

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

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.html

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

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91451

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036171

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-3

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-4

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-3

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3018-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3018-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3019-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3020-1

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1349722

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/nccgroup/TriforceLinuxSyscallFuzzer/tree/master/crash_reports/report_compatIpt

ADVISORYhttps://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05347541

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40435/

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40489/

All References (86)

→

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13cVendor Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00060.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00061.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00000.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00007.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00027.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00044.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00048.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00050.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00051.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00052.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00053.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00054.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00055.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.htmlThird Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2016-4997

CVSS Score7.8 / 10

SeverityHIGH

WeaknessCWE-264

CISA KEVNo

ExploitPOC

Affected5 vendor(s)

PublishedJul 3, 2016

Related CVEs (CWE-264)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2016-4997 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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