CVE-2016-2853: linux linux_kernel Improper Privilege Management
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2016-2853 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in linux linux_kernel. EPSS estimates a 0.91% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 59.9% of scored vulnerabilities. 3 public exploits are recorded.
Public exploit (exploit-database, 19-02-2016)
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 1 · Related 1Timeline
- 02-05-2016PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 05-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
The aufs module for the Linux kernel 3.x and 4.x does not properly restrict the mount namespace, which allows local users to gain privileges by mounting an aufs filesystem on top of a FUSE filesystem, and then executing a crafted setuid program.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 3 sources · 2 versions- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.91%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
60%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.91% on 05-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.
Not in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
3 foundExploit Reference (halfdog.net)
Maturity: unknown
Exploit Reference (openwall.com)
Maturity: unknown
AUFS (Ubuntu 15.10) - 'allow_userns' Fuse/Xattr User Namespaces Privilege Escalation
Maturity: poc
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Ubuntu40 products
- linuxAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 4.4.0-222.255
- linux-aws< 4.4.0-1102.107 | < 4.4.0-1138.152
- linux-aws-fipsAll versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-azure-fdeAll versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-azure-fde-6.17All versions (No fix recorded)
Debian1 product
- linux< 3.18-1~exp1
Linux1 product
- linux_kernel≥ 3.0.0, ≤ 3.19.8 | ≥ 4.0.0, ≤ 4.20.15
3 vendors · 42 products
References
9 links- www.halfdog.net/Security/2016/AufsPrivilegeEscalationInUserNamespaces/X Refsource MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryREPORT
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/02/24/9Mailing ListX Refsource MLISTExploitThird Party Advisory
- sourceforge.net/p/aufs/mailman/message/34864744/Mailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party AdvisoryREPORT