Medium severity5.5NVD Advisory· Published Nov 16, 2016· Updated Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-7916

Description

Race condition in the environ_read function in fs/proc/base.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5.4 allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory by reading a /proc/*/environ file during a process-setup time interval in which environment-variable copying is incomplete.

AI Insight

LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.

Affected products

Linux/Kernel2 versions
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 1 more
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <=4.5.3
- (no CPE)range: <4.5.4
osv-coords66 versions
pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-bigmem&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-bigmem&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-bigsmp&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-bigsmp&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-bigsmp&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-bigsmp&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-default&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-docs&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ec2&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-pae&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-pae&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-pae&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-pae&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-pae&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ppc64&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-ppc64&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-rt&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Real%20Time%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-rt_trace&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Real%20Time%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-source-rt&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Real%20Time%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-syms-rt&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Real%20Time%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-trace&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Point%20of%20Sale%2011%20SP3 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP2-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP3-LTSS pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Manager%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20Manager%20Proxy%202.1 pkg:rpm/suse/kernel-xen&distro=SUSE%20OpenStack%20Cloud%205
< 3.0.101-94.1+ 65 more
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.2
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101.rt130-68.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101.rt130-68.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101.rt130-68.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101.rt130-68.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.7.53.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-94.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1
- (no CPE)range: < 3.0.101-0.47.96.1

Patches

Vulnerability mechanics

References

git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/nvdIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8148a73c9901a8794a50f950083c00ccf97d43b3nvdIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-11-01.htmlnvdThird Party Advisory
www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.4nvdRelease NotesVendor Advisory
www.securityfocus.com/bid/94138nvdThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cginvdIssue Tracking
forums.grsecurity.net/viewtopic.phpnvdIssue Tracking
www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3159-1nvd
www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3159-2nvd

News mentions

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cvss	0.358
epss	0.000
exploit	0.000
kev	0.000
patch	0.000
ransomware	0.000