CVE-2016-2143

Name: CVE-2016-2143
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2016-04-27T17:59:08.867+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 0.56%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-2143 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. The fork implementation in the Linux kernel before 4.5 on s390 platforms mishandles the case of four page-table levels, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted application, related to arch/s390/include/asm/mmu_context.h and arch/s390/include/asm/pgalloc.h.. EPSS estimates a 0.56% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The fork implementation in the Linux kernel before 4.5 on s390 platforms mishandles the case of four page-table levels, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted application, related to arch/s390/include/asm/mmu_context.h and arch/s390/include/asm/pgalloc.h.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.56%

42.1th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-20

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 2.6.25, < 3.2.79	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.3, < 3.12.58	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.13, < 3.16.35	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.17, < 4.1.21	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.2, < 4.4.6	—
Debian	Debian Linux	6.0	—
Debian	Debian Linux	7.0	—
Debian	Debian Linux	8.0	—
Redhat	Enterprise Linux	7.0	—
Oracle	Linux	7	0

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=3446c13b268af86391d06611327006b059b8bab1Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00019.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00052.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00054.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00059.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-07/msg00005.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00038.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1539.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2766.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/3446c13b268af86391d06611327006b059b8bab1Patch
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2143Third Party Advisory
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=3446c13b268af86391d06611327006b059b8bab1Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00019.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00052.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00054.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00059.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-07/msg00005.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00038.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1539.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2766.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/3446c13b268af86391d06611327006b059b8bab1Patch
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2143Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Apr 27, 2016
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-2143?

How severe is CVE-2016-2143?

CVE-2016-2143 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.56% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-2143?

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-2016-2143?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST