What is CVE-2016-7042?

CVE-2016-7042 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 6.2 out of 10, classified as a Buffer Overflow flaw (CWE-119). CVE-2016-7042 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-7042?

CVE-2016-7042 has a CVSS score of 6.2 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-7042?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-7042. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2016-7042 actively exploited?

CVE-2016-7042 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Buffer Overflow (CWE-119)?

The product performs operations on a memory buffer but reads or writes outside its intended boundaries. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/119.html

CVE-2016-7042

Medium

The proc_keys_show function in security/keys/proc.c in the Linux kernel through 4.8.2, when the GNU Compiler Collection (gcc) stack protector is enabled, uses an incorrect buffer size for certain timeout data, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (stack memory corruption and panic) by reading the /proc/keys file.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2016-10-16

Last modified 2026-05-06

CVSS version 3.0

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.0 score

6.2

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

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

Weakness type

CWE-119

CVE-2016-7042 is a Buffer Overflow vulnerability

What is Buffer Overflow?

The product performs operations on a memory buffer but reads or writes outside its intended boundaries. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2016-7042 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-2017-0817.html
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/13/5

Mailing List
Securityfocus
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93544
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1842
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2077
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2669
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1373966

Issue Tracking Third Party Advisory
Source
https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-01-01.html

Details

CVE ID CVE-2016-7042

Severity Medium

CVSS score 6.2 / 10

CVSS version 3.0

Published 2016-10-16

Modified 2026-05-06

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-7042?

CVE-2016-7042 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 6.2 out of 10 , classified as a Buffer Overflow flaw (CWE-119) . CVE-2016-7042 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-7042?

CVE-2016-7042 has a CVSS score of 6.2 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.0). The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-7042?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-7042. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2016-7042 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2016-7042 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
What is Buffer Overflow (CWE-119)?

The product performs operations on a memory buffer but reads or writes outside its intended boundaries. View CWE-119 on MITRE CWE →