CVE-2016-7914: linux linux_kernel Out-of-bounds Read

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2016-7914 is a high (CVSS 7.1) Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability in linux linux_kernel. EPSS estimates a 2.03% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 80.7% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 16-11-2016
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 06-08-2024
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

The assoc_array_insert_into_terminal_node function in lib/assoc_array.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5.3 does not check whether a slot is a leaf, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory or cause a denial of service (invalid pointer dereference and out-of-bounds read) via an application that uses associative-array data structures, as demonstrated by the keyutils test suite.

• CWE-125Out-of-bounds ReadThe product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
• CWE-476NULL Pointer DereferenceThe product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.