CVE-2016-1576
The overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel through 4.5.2 does not properly restrict the mount namespace, which allows local users to gain privileges by mounting an overlayfs filesystem on top of a FUSE filesystem, and then executing a crafted…
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 1.1%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
The overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel through 4.5.2 does not properly restrict the mount namespace, which allows local users to gain privileges by mounting an overlayfs filesystem on top of a FUSE filesystem, and then executing a crafted setuid program.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 1.13% probability · 66th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · first 22 November 2016
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Affected
- canonical/ubuntu core · canonical/ubuntu linux · canonical/ubuntu touch · linux/linux kernel
- Source
- security@ubuntu.com
EPSS 1.1% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e9f57ebcba563e0cd532926cab83c92bb4d79360Mailing List, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://people.canonical.com/~ubuntu-security/cve/2016/CVE-2016-1576.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.halfdog.net/Security/2016/OverlayfsOverFusePrivilegeEscalation/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/24/8Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/18/1Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1535150Third Party Advisory
- https://launchpadlibrarian.net/235300093/0005-overlayfs-Be-more-careful-about-copying-up-sxid-file.patchMailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://launchpadlibrarian.net/235300225/0006-overlayfs-Propogate-nosuid-from-lower-and-upper-moun.patchMailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e9f57ebcba563e0cd532926cab83c92bb4d79360Mailing List, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://people.canonical.com/~ubuntu-security/cve/2016/CVE-2016-1576.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.halfdog.net/Security/2016/OverlayfsOverFusePrivilegeEscalation/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/24/8Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/18/1Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1535150Third Party Advisory
- https://launchpadlibrarian.net/235300093/0005-overlayfs-Be-more-careful-about-copying-up-sxid-file.patchMailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://launchpadlibrarian.net/235300225/0006-overlayfs-Propogate-nosuid-from-lower-and-upper-moun.patchMailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.