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CVE-2016-8655

48
FAUCET Score

CVE-2016-8655 is a race condition in the Linux kernel's AF_PACKET module (net/packet/af_packet.c) affecting versions through 4.8.12, including Canonical and Ubuntu Linux distributions. This vulnerability allows local users with CAP_NET_RAW capability to achieve privilege escalation or cause a denial of service (use-after-free) by manipulating socket versions. It carries a high CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a low-complexity local attack with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While not listed in KEV, multiple public exploits exist, including Metasploit modules and ExploitDB entries, demonstrating its exploitability. The vulnerability has garnered significant community discussion and media coverage, highlighting its potential impact.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
>= 3.2, < 3.2.85CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
>= 3.3, < 3.10.106CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
>= 3.11, < 3.12.69CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
>= 3.13, < 3.16.40CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
>= 3.17, < 3.18.46CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

7.8HIGH

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

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
Exploitability Score
1.8
Impact Score
5.9
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
11.13%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
95.5%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-26
Model: v2026.06.15
Metasploit: AF_PACKET chocobo_root Privilege Escalation · Aug 12, 2016
ExploitDB: EDB-47170 · Dec 29, 2018
This CVE's current EPSS score of 0.1113 is in the 99th percentile among its peer group of 16,994 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.1 Reddit, 0.2 Bluesky, 0.1 Mastodon, and 0.2 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.3 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.0 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (4)

github_advisorypatch availablevia nvd_reference
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Fixed in: kernel-rt-0:3.10.0-514.10.2.rt56.435.el7
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Fixed in: kernel-0:3.10.0-514.10.2.el7
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2Fixed in: kernel-rt-1:3.10.0-514.rt56.215.el6rt
View patch

Vendor Advisories (1)

redhatCVE-2016-8655Important

kernel: Race condition in packet_set_ring leads to use after free

Dec 6, 2016

References

git.kernel.org / cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit
PatchVendor Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00044.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00054.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00055.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00056.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00067.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00070.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00073.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00076.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00077.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00087.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
packetstormsecurity.com / files/140063/Linux-Kernel-4.4.0-AF_PACKET-Race-Condition-Privilege-Escalation.html
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
rhn.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017-0386.html
Third Party Advisory
rhn.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017-0387.html
Third Party Advisory
rhn.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017-0402.html
Third Party Advisory
bugzilla.redhat.com / show_bug.cgi
Issue TrackingThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
github.com / torvalds/linux/commit/84ac7260236a49c79eede91617700174c2c19b0c
PatchThird Party Advisory
source.android.com / security/bulletin/2017-03-01.html
Third Party Advisory
exploit-db.com / exploits/40871
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
exploit-db.com / exploits/44696
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
openwall.com / lists/oss-security/2016/12/06/1
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
securityfocus.com / bid/94692
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
securitytracker.com / id/1037403
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
securitytracker.com / id/1037968
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3149-1
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3149-2
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3150-1
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3150-2
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3151-1
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3151-2
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3151-3
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3151-4
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3152-1
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3152-2
Third Party Advisory