Vulnerability Monitor

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CVE-2016-0728

The join_session_keyring function in security/keys/process_keys.c in the Linux kernel before 4.4.1 mishandles object references in a certain error case, which allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (integer overflow and use-after-free) via crafted keyctl commands.

Security Impact Summary

This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8, requiring local system access to exploit with relatively low complexity without requiring user interaction requiring only low-level privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (unauthorized modifications), and availability (service disruption) for affected systems. Impacting 5 products from google, from hp, from linux and 2 others, organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.

Historical Context

First disclosed in 2016, this vulnerability was reported during a period defined by widespread IoT adoption challenges, mobile security concerns, and the emergence of advanced persistent threat (APT) techniques. Contemporary mitigation strategies focused on secure development practices and third-party component vetting.

Published

2016-02-08T03:59:10.887

Last Modified

2025-04-12T10:46:40.837

Status

Deferred

Source

[email protected]

Severity

CVSSv3.1: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSSv2 Vector

AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Access Vector: LOCAL
Access Complexity: LOW
Authentication: NONE
Confidentiality Impact: COMPLETE
Integrity Impact: COMPLETE
Availability Impact: COMPLETE

Exploitability Score

3.9

Impact Score

10.0

Weaknesses

Type: Primary
NVD-CWE-Other

Affected Vendors & Products

Type	Vendor	Product	Version/Range	Vulnerable?
Operating System	google	android	4.0	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.0.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.0.2	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.0.3	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.0.4	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.1.2	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.2	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.2.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.2.2	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.3	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.3.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.4	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.4.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.4.2	Yes
Operating System	google	android	4.4.3	Yes
Operating System	google	android	5.0	Yes
Operating System	google	android	5.0.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	5.0.2	Yes
Operating System	google	android	5.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	5.1.0	Yes
Operating System	google	android	5.1.1	Yes
Operating System	google	android	6.0	Yes
Operating System	google	android	6.0.1	Yes
Application	hp	server_migration_pack	≤ 7.5	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 3.10.95	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 3.12.53	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 3.14.59	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 3.16.35	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 3.18.26	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 4.1.16	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 4.3.4	Yes
Operating System	linux	linux_kernel	< 4.4.1	Yes
Operating System	debian	debian_linux	8.0	Yes
Operating System	canonical	ubuntu_linux	12.04	Yes
Operating System	canonical	ubuntu_linux	14.04	Yes
Operating System	canonical	ubuntu_linux	15.04	Yes
Operating System	canonical	ubuntu_linux	15.10	Yes

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=23567fd052a9abb6d67fe8e7a9ccdd9800a540f2 Vendor Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-February/176484.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-January/176194.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00026.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00012.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00033.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00034.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00035.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00038.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00039.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00040.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00041.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00043.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00044.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00045.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://perception-point.io/2016/01/14/analysis-and-exploitation-of-a-linux-kernel-vulnerability-cve-2016-0728/ Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0064.html Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0065.html Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0068.html Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-03-01.html Vendor Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3448 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.1 Vendor Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/19/2 Mailing List, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjan2016-2867209.html Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/81054 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry ([email protected])
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034701 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2870-1 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2870-2 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2871-1 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2871-2 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2872-1 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2872-2 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2872-3 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2873-1 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa112 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1297475 Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/23567fd052a9abb6d67fe8e7a9ccdd9800a540f2 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05018265 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05130958 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05158380 Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20160211-0001/ Third Party Advisory ([email protected])
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39277/ Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry ([email protected])
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=23567fd052a9abb6d67fe8e7a9ccdd9800a540f2 Vendor Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-February/176484.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-January/176194.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-01/msg00026.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00012.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00033.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00034.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00035.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00038.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00039.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00040.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00041.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00043.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00044.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00045.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://perception-point.io/2016/01/14/analysis-and-exploitation-of-a-linux-kernel-vulnerability-cve-2016-0728/ Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0064.html Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0065.html Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0068.html Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-03-01.html Vendor Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3448 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.1 Vendor Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/19/2 Mailing List, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjan2016-2867209.html Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/81054 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034701 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2870-1 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2870-2 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2871-1 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2871-2 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2872-1 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2872-2 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2872-3 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2873-1 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa112 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1297475 Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/23567fd052a9abb6d67fe8e7a9ccdd9800a540f2 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05018265 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05130958 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05158380 Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20160211-0001/ Third Party Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39277/ Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)

How SecUtils Interprets This CVE

SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For google's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.