CVE-2016-8655

Name: CVE-2016-8655
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2016-12-08T08:59:00.177+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 11.13%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-8655 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. Race condition in net/packet/af_packet.c in the Linux kernel through 4.8.12 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (use-after-free) by leveraging the CAP_NET_RAW capability to change a socket version, related to the packet_set_ring and packet_setsockopt functions.. EPSS estimates a 11.13% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Race condition in net/packet/af_packet.c in the Linux kernel through 4.8.12 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (use-after-free) by leveraging the CAP_NET_RAW capability to change a socket version, related to the packet_set_ring and packet_setsockopt functions.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

11.13%

95.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.2, < 3.2.85
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.3, < 3.10.106
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.11, < 3.12.69
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.13, < 3.16.40
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.17, < 3.18.46
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 3.19, < 4.1.37
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.2, < 4.4.38
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.5, < 4.8.14
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	12.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	14.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	16.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	16.10

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=84ac7260236a49c79eede91617700174c2c19b0cPatch, Vendor Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00044.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00054.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00055.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00056.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00067.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00070.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00073.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00076.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00077.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00087.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140063/Linux-Kernel-4.4.0-AF_PACKET-Race-Condition-Privilege-Escalation.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0386.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0387.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0402.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/06/1Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94692Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037403Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037968Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3149-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3149-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3150-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3150-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-3Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-4Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3152-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3152-2Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1400019Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/84ac7260236a49c79eede91617700174c2c19b0cPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-03-01.htmlThird Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40871/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44696/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=84ac7260236a49c79eede91617700174c2c19b0cPatch, Vendor Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00044.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00054.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00055.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00056.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00067.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00070.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00073.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00076.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00077.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00087.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140063/Linux-Kernel-4.4.0-AF_PACKET-Race-Condition-Privilege-Escalation.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0386.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0387.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0402.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/06/1Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94692Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037403Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037968Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3149-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3149-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3150-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3150-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-2Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-3Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3151-4Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3152-1Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3152-2Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1400019Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/84ac7260236a49c79eede91617700174c2c19b0cPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-03-01.htmlThird Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40871/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44696/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry

Timeline

Published: Dec 8, 2016
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-8655?

How severe is CVE-2016-8655?

CVE-2016-8655 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 11.13% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-8655?

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-2016-8655?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST