What is CVE-2016-8646?

CVE-2016-8646 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476). CVE-2016-8646 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-8646?

CVE-2016-8646 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-8646?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-8646. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2016-8646 actively exploited?

CVE-2016-8646 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/476.html

CVE-2016-8646

Medium

The hash_accept function in crypto/algif_hash.c in the Linux kernel before 4.3.6 allows local users to cause a denial of service (OOPS) by attempting to trigger use of in-kernel hash algorithms for a socket that has received zero bytes of data.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2016-11-28

Last modified 2026-05-06

CVSS version 3.0

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.0 score

5.5

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

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

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2016-8646 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2016-8646 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Kernel.org
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.3.6

Release Notes
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/15/2

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Securityfocus
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94309
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1297
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1298
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1308
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1388821

Issue Tracking
Kernel patch commit
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=4afa5f9617927453ac04b24b584f6c718dfb4f45
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/4afa5f9617927453ac04b24b584f6c718dfb4f45
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2016-8646

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.0

Published 2016-11-28

Modified 2026-05-06

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-8646?

CVE-2016-8646 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . CVE-2016-8646 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-8646?

CVE-2016-8646 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.0). The vector string is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-8646?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2016-8646. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2016-8646 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2016-8646 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →