kernel: Possible privilege escalation due to lack of locking around changing event->ctx
Published Dec 28, 2016
7.0
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.43%
Description
kernel/events/core.c in the performance subsystem in the Linux kernel before 4.0 mismanages locks during certain migrations, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 31095224.
Affected products
No data.
- < 3.2.85
- ≥ 3.3 · < 3.16.40
- ≥ 3.17 · < 3.18.54
- ≥ 3.19 · < 4.0
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue does not affect the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, 6, 7 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG-2 as the flaw was already fixed in the products listed.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (9 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.43% (0.00429) | 34.80th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.43% (0.00429) | 34.01th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.09% (0.00086) | 22.71th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.07th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 41.69th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 10, 2022 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 39.91th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 37.91th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 20.32th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (9)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=f63a8daa5812afef4f06c962351687e1ff9ccb2b x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory
- http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-12-01.html x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3791 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94679 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-6787 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1403842 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/f63a8daa5812afef4f06c962351687e1ff9ccb2b x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6787
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6787
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=f63a8daa5812afef4f06c962351687e1ff9ccb2b | x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory | |
| http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-12-01.html | x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3791 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94679 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-6787 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1403842 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory | |
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/f63a8daa5812afef4f06c962351687e1ff9ccb2b | x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6787 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6787 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.