CVE-2016-4997
The compat IPT_SO_SET_REPLACE and IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE setsockopt implementations in the netfilter subsystem in the Linux kernel before 4.6.3 allow local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by leveraging in-container…
Does this matter?
2 public exploits are published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 5.7%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
The compat IPT_SO_SET_REPLACE and IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE setsockopt implementations in the netfilter subsystem in the Linux kernel before 4.6.3 allow local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by leveraging in-container root access to provide a crafted offset value that triggers an unintended decrement.
- 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
- 5.68% probability · 93th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 27 September 2016
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-264
- Affected
- linux/linux kernel · canonical/ubuntu linux · novell/suse linux enterprise software development kit · novell/suse linux enterprise desktop · novell/suse linux enterprise live patching · novell/suse linux enterprise module for public cloud · novell/suse linux enterprise real time extension · novell/suse linux enterprise server · novell/suse linux enterprise workstation extension · oracle/linux · debian/debian linux
- Source
- secalert@redhat.com
EPSS moved from 7.0% on 27 September 2026 to 5.7% on 26 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (2)
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.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-40489source ↗ | Linux Kernel 4.6.2 (Ubuntu 16.04.1) - 'IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE' Local Privilege Escalationlinux · Qian Zhang | local | 10 October 2016 | no |
| EDB-40435source ↗ | Linux Kernel 4.6.3 (x86) - 'Netfilter' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)linux_x86 · Metasploit | local | 27 September 2016 | yes |
References
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ce683e5f9d045e5d67d1312a42b359cb2ab2a13cVendor Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00060.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00061.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00000.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00007.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00027.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00044.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00048.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00050.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00051.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00052.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00053.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00054.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00055.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1883.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607Third Party Advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.6.3Vendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/24/5Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/29/10Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinoct2016-3090547.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91451Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036171Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-1Third Party Advisory
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-2Third Party Advisory
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-3Third Party Advisory
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3016-4Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.