CVE-2015-8660 Missing authorization in n/a

What is CVE-2015-8660?

CVE-2015-8660 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Dec 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

The ovl_setattr function in fs/overlayfs/inode.c in the Linux kernel through 4.3.3 attempts to merge distinct setattr operations, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and modify the attributes of arbitrary overlay files via a crafted application.

Weakness: CWE-264

Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-8660?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2015-8660?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.

Is CVE-2015-8660 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-8660 exists.

Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module, 3 Exploit-DB entries and 3 proofs of concept on GitHub.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2015-8660, GHSA-2m7p-qcqr-gfv2, UBUNTU-CVE-2015-8660, USN-2857-2, USN-2858-2.