CVE-2016-7042 Memory corruption in n/a

What is CVE-2016-7042?

CVE-2016-7042 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Oct 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

The proc_keys_show function in security/keys/proc.c in the Linux kernel through 4.8.2, when the GNU Compiler Collection (gcc) stack protector is enabled, uses an incorrect buffer size for certain timeout data, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (stack memory corruption and panic) by reading the /proc/keys file.

Weakness: CWE-119

Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7042?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2016-7042?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2016-7042 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-7042 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2016-7042, GHSA-qx4h-3xrh-8hmg, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-7042, USN-3128-1, USN-3128-2, USN-3128-3.