# CVE-2018-16597: Missing authorization in n/a

> Local attackers can modify or truncate files in the underlying filesystem due to incorrect access checking in overlayfs mounts.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **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:** 21 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-16597, GHSA-8j89-mf7f-m8q3

## What is CVE-2018-16597?

CVE-2018-16597 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Sep 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel before 4.8. Incorrect access checking in overlayfs mounts could be used by local attackers to modify or truncate files in the underlying filesystem.

Weakness: CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-16597?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Linux kernel, Netapp Active Iq Performance Analytics Services, Netapp Element Software, Opensuse Leap.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-16597?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-16597 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16597 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-2018-16597 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-16597 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Sep 2018. 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-2018-16597 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-2018-16597/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16597/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16597
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16597
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-16597

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16597/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.