What is CVE-2016-4997?

CVE-2016-4997 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264). CVE-2016-4997 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-4997?

CVE-2016-4997 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-4997?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-4997. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2016-4997 actively exploited?

CVE-2016-4997 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-2016-4997

High

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.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2016-07-03

Last modified 2026-05-06

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

7.8

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

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

Weakness type

CWE-264

CVE-2016-4997 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-2016-4997 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

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

Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00061.html

Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00000.html

Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00007.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00027.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00044.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00048.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00050.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00051.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00052.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00053.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00054.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00055.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.html

Third Party Advisory
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.html

Third Party Advisory
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1883.html

Third Party Advisory
Debian Security
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607

Third Party Advisory
Kernel.org
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.3

Vendor Advisory
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/24/5

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/29/10

Exploit Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Oracle
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html

Third Party Advisory
Oracle
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.html

Third Party Advisory
Oracle
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinoct2016-3090547.html

Third Party Advisory
Securityfocus
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91451

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Securitytracker
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036171

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-1

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-2

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-3

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-4

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-1

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-2

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3017-3

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3018-1

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3018-2

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3019-1

Third Party Advisory
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3020-1

Third Party Advisory
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1349722

Issue Tracking Third Party Advisory
GitHub
https://github.com/nccgroup/TriforceLinuxSyscallFuzzer/tree/master/crash_reports/report_compatIpt

Exploit Third Party Advisory
H20566
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05347541

Third Party Advisory
Exploit-DB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40435/

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Exploit-DB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40489/

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Kernel patch commit
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13c
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13c
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2016-4997

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2016-07-03

Modified 2026-05-06

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-4997?

CVE-2016-4997 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 , classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264) . CVE-2016-4997 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-4997?

CVE-2016-4997 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-4997?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-4997. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2016-4997 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2016-4997 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 →