CVE-2015-8660

Name: CVE-2015-8660
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2015-12-28T11:59:08.093+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 6.7/10EPSS 22.37%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2015-8660 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 6.7/10 on the CVSS scale. The ovl_setattr function in fs/overlayfs/inode.c in the Linux kernel through 4.3.3 attempts to merge distinct setattr operations, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and modify the attributes of arbitrary overlay files via a crafted application.. EPSS estimates a 22.37% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The ovl_setattr function in fs/overlayfs/inode.c in the Linux kernel through 4.3.3 attempts to merge distinct setattr operations, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and modify the attributes of arbitrary overlay files via a crafted application.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

6.7/10

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

EPSS Probability

22.37%

97.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-264

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.18, < 3.18.31
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.19, < 4.1.22
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.2, < 4.4

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=acff81ec2c79492b180fade3c2894425cd35a545Vendor Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00039.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00040.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00043.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135151/Ubuntu-14.04-LTS-15.10-overlayfs-Local-Root.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1532.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1539.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1541.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/12/23/5Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79671Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034548Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2857-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2857-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2858-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2858-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2858-3Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1291329Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/acff81ec2c79492b180fade3c2894425cd35a545Vendor Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39166/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39230/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40688/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=acff81ec2c79492b180fade3c2894425cd35a545Vendor Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00039.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00040.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00043.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135151/Ubuntu-14.04-LTS-15.10-overlayfs-Local-Root.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1532.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1539.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1541.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/12/23/5Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79671Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034548Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2857-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2857-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2858-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2858-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2858-3Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1291329Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/acff81ec2c79492b180fade3c2894425cd35a545Vendor Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39166/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39230/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40688/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry

Timeline

Published: Dec 28, 2015
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-8660?

How severe is CVE-2015-8660?

CVE-2015-8660 has a CVSS score of 6.7/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 22.37% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2015-8660?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2015-8660?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST