How severe is CVE-2016-7917?

CVE-2016-7917 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.0, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2016-7917 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (71st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-7917?

CVE-2016-7917 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-7917?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2016-7917 published?

CVE-2016-7917 was published on 2016-11-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-7917

CVE-2016-7917 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-125.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.0)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (71st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-125
Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
Published: 2016-11-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The nfnetlink_rcv_batch function in net/netfilter/nfnetlink.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5 does not check whether a batch message's length field is large enough, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory or cause a denial of service (infinite loop or out-of-bounds read) by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-7917?: The nfnetlink_rcv_batch function in net/netfilter/nfnetlink.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5 does not check whether a batch message's length field is large enough, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory or cause a denial of service (infinite loop or out-of-bounds read) by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability.
How severe is CVE-2016-7917?: CVE-2016-7917 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.0, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2016-7917 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (71st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-7917?: CVE-2016-7917 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-7917?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2016-7917 published?: CVE-2016-7917 was published on 2016-11-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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