What is CVE-2015-8709?

CVE-2015-8709 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264). CVE-2015-8709 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2015-8709?

CVE-2015-8709 has a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2015-8709?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2015-8709. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2015-8709 actively exploited?

CVE-2015-8709 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control (CWE-264)?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/264.html

CVE-2015-8709

High

kernel/ptrace.c in the Linux kernel through 4.4.1 mishandles uid and gid mappings, which allows local users to gain privileges by establishing a user namespace, waiting for a root process to enter that namespace with an unsafe uid or gid, and then using the ptrace system call. NOTE: the vendor states "there is no kernel bug here.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2016-02-08

Last modified 2026-05-06

CVSS version 3.0

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.0 score

7.0

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

High

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-264

CVE-2015-8709 is a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control vulnerability

What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2015-8709 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Details

CVE ID CVE-2015-8709

Severity High

CVSS score 7.0 / 10

CVSS version 3.0

Published 2016-02-08

Modified 2026-05-06

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-8709?

CVE-2015-8709 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10 , classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264) . CVE-2015-8709 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2015-8709?

CVE-2015-8709 has a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.0). The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2015-8709?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2015-8709. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2015-8709 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2015-8709 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control (CWE-264)?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. View CWE-264 on MITRE CWE →