What is CVE-2016-5696?

CVE-2016-5696 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.8 out of 10, classified as a Information Exposure flaw (CWE-200). CVE-2016-5696 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-5696?

CVE-2016-5696 has a CVSS score of 4.8 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-5696?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-5696. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2016-5696 actively exploited?

CVE-2016-5696 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Information Exposure (CWE-200)?

The product exposes sensitive information to an actor not authorised to see it. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/200.html

CVE-2016-5696

Medium

net/ipv4/tcp_input.c in the Linux kernel before 4.7 does not properly determine the rate of challenge ACK segments, which makes it easier for remote attackers to hijack TCP sessions via a blind in-window attack.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2016-08-06

Last modified 2026-05-06

CVSS version 3.0

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.0 score

4.8

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

High

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

Low

Availability

Low

Vector string

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

Weakness type

CWE-200

CVE-2016-5696 is a Information Exposure vulnerability

What is Information Exposure?

The product exposes sensitive information to an actor not authorised to see it. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2016-5696 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1631.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1632.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1633.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1657.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1664.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1814.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1815.html
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1939.html
Source
http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-10-01.html

Third Party Advisory
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/12/2

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/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html

Vendor Advisory
Prnewswire
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitnick-attack-reappears-at-geekpwn-macau-contest-300270779.html

Technical Description
Securityfocus
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91704
Securitytracker
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036625
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-1
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-2
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-3
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-4
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3071-1
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3071-2
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3072-1
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3072-2
Bto
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa131
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1354708

Issue Tracking
GitHub
https://github.com/Gnoxter/mountain_goat

Exploit Third Party Advisory
Kc
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10167
Security
https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2016-5696
Arista
https://www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/1461-security-advisory-23
Usenix
https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/usenixsecurity16/sec16_paper_cao.pdf

Technical Description
Kernel patch commit
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=75ff39ccc1bd5d3c455b6822ab09e533c551f758
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/75ff39ccc1bd5d3c455b6822ab09e533c551f758
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2016-5696

Severity Medium

CVSS score 4.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.0

Published 2016-08-06

Modified 2026-05-06

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-5696?

CVE-2016-5696 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.8 out of 10 , classified as an Information Exposure flaw (CWE-200) . CVE-2016-5696 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-5696?

CVE-2016-5696 has a CVSS score of 4.8 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.0). The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-5696?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-5696. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2016-5696 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2016-5696 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
What is Information Exposure (CWE-200)?

The product exposes sensitive information to an actor not authorised to see it. View CWE-200 on MITRE CWE →