# CVE-2016-4997: Integer overflow in n/a > Local attackers with container root access can exploit a netfilter integer overflow to gain privileges or cause denial of service. - **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 3 Jul 2016 - **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4997, GHSA-qc28-hwmc-pw94, SUSE-SU-2016:1709-1, SUSE-SU-2016:1710-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-4997 ## What is CVE-2016-4997? CVE-2016-4997 is a high-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 3 Jul 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. ### Official 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. Weakness: CWE-264 ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4997? It affects 11 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-source` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.1 | | `kernel-syms` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.1 | | `kernel-xen` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kernel-source` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.1 | | `kernel-syms` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.1 | | `kernel-xen` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_6` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 | All versions | 1-2.3 | | `kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_15` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 | All versions | 1-2.3 | | `kernel-ec2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kernel-ec2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-source` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.1 | | `kernel-syms` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.1 | | `kernel-xen` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kernel-source` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.1 | | `kernel-syms` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.1 | | `kernel-xen` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-source` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.1 | | `kernel-syms` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.1 | | `kernel-xen` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kernel-source` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.1 | | `kernel-syms` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.1 | | `kernel-xen` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | | `kernel-docs` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.3 | | `kernel-obs-build` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.3 | | `kernel-docs` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.4 | | `kernel-obs-build` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.3 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 | All versions | 3.12.60-52.54.2 | | `kernel-default` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP1 | All versions | 3.12.59-60.45.2 | Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel, 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 Software Development Kit, Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension, Oracle Linux. ## How do I fix CVE-2016-4997? Apply the vendor's patch. ## Is CVE-2016-4997 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-4997 exists. Public exploit code: - Linux Kernel 4.6.3 Netfilter Privilege Escalation (metasploit) - Linux Kernel 4.6.3 (x86) - 'Netfilter' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit) (exploitdb) - Linux Kernel 4.6.2 (Ubuntu 16.04.1) - 'IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE' Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb) ## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux - [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2016-4997 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2016-4997 is a high-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 3 Jul 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-4997 exists. Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page. Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4997/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4997/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4997 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4997 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-4997 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4997/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.