# CVE-2016-7042: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local users can cause a denial of service via stack memory corruption when reading /proc/keys if GCC stack protector is enabled.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.2 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-7042, GHSA-qx4h-3xrh-8hmg, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-7042, USN-3128-1, USN-3128-2, USN-3128-3

## 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 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7042?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-7042?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## 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](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-7042 and fix it if it is affected.

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

Affected product: Linux kernel. 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-2016-7042/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7042/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7042
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7042
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-7042

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7042/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.