CVE-2016-9604

Name: CVE-2016-9604
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2018-07-11T13:29:00.207+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

UnknownEPSS 0.26%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-9604 is a vulnerability of currently unknown severity. It was discovered in the Linux kernel before 4.11-rc8 that root can gain direct access to an internal keyring, such as '.dns_resolver' in RHEL-7 or '.builtin_trusted_keys' upstream, by joining it as its session keyring. This allows root to bypass module signature verification by adding a new public key of its own devising to the keyring.. EPSS estimates a 0.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

It was discovered in the Linux kernel before 4.11-rc8 that root can gain direct access to an internal keyring, such as '.dns_resolver' in RHEL-7 or '.builtin_trusted_keys' upstream, by joining it as its session keyring. This allows root to bypass module signature verification by adding a new public key of its own devising to the keyring.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

0.26%

17.3th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	<= 4.11	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	4.11	Rc1

References

http://people.canonical.com/~ubuntu-security/cve/2016/CVE-2016-9604.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102135Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1842Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2077Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2669Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1035576Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2016-9604Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ee8f844e3c5a73b999edf733df1c529d6503ec2fPatch, Vendor Advisory
http://people.canonical.com/~ubuntu-security/cve/2016/CVE-2016-9604.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102135Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1842Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2077Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2669Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1035576Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2016-9604Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ee8f844e3c5a73b999edf733df1c529d6503ec2fPatch, Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jul 11, 2018
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-9604?

How severe is CVE-2016-9604?

Severity scoring for CVE-2016-9604 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 0.26% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-9604?

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-2016-9604?

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

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Source: NVD / NIST