kernel: proc: prevent accessing /proc/<pid>/environ until it's ready
Published Nov 16, 2016
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 0.39%
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.
Affected products
No data.
- ≤ 4.5.3
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Will not fix
| 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 | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Will not fix | 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 as the code with the flaw is not present in the products listed. This issue affects the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG-2. This has been rated as having Low security impact and is not currently planned to be addressed in future updates. For additional information, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle: https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N
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 (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.39% (0.00388) | 30.41th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.39% (0.00388) | 30.34th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.05% (0.00053) | 13.84th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.07% (0.00073) | 33.68th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 20, 2024 | 0.07% (0.00073) | 31.70th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00073) | 29.69th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.54% (0.01537) | 74.52th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 23, 2023 | 1.54% (0.01537) | 74.48th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.54% (0.01537) | 72.41th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.54% (0.01537) | 51.33th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (13)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=8148a73c9901a8794a50f950083c00ccf97d43b3 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-11-01.html x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.4 x_refsource_CONFIRMRelease NotesVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94138 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3159-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3159-2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-7916 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=116461 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1406085 Issue Tracking
- https://forums.grsecurity.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4363 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8148a73c9901a8794a50f950083c00ccf97d43b3 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7916
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7916
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.