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NVD / CVE Program· CNA mitre

CVE-2016-4569: The snd_timer_user_params function in sound/core/timer.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6 does not initialize a certain data structure, which…

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.0—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.83% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 58.2% of all records.
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: linux (Debian:12) 4.5.5-1; kernel (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client) 0:3.10.0-514.el7; kernel-abi-whitelists (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client) 0:3.10.0-514.el7.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to linux (Debian:12) 4.5.5-1; kernel (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client) 0:3.10.0-514.el7; kernel-abi-whitelists (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client) 0:3.10.0-514.el7 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

The snd_timer_user_params function in sound/core/timer.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via crafted use of the ALSA timer interface.

Published
May 23, 2016
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
0.8% · 58th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.8%

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

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Follow CVE-2016-4569

When you'll hear from us

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  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel
canonicalubuntu linux
novellsuse linux enterprise software development kit
novellsuse linux enterprise debuginfo
novellsuse linux enterprise desktop
novellsuse linux enterprise live patching
novellsuse linux enterprise module for public cloud
novellsuse linux enterprise real time extension
novellsuse linux enterprise server
novellsuse linux enterprise workstation extension

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • canonical ubuntu linux12.04
  • canonical ubuntu linux14.04
  • canonical ubuntu linux15.10
  • canonical ubuntu linux16.04
  • linux linux kernelup to 4.6 inclusive
  • novell suse linux enterprise debuginfo11.0
  • novell suse linux enterprise desktop12.0
  • novell suse linux enterprise live patching12.0

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 4.5.5-14.5.5-1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernelbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-abi-whitelistsbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-debugbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-debug-debuginfobefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-debug-develbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-debuginfobefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64before 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-develbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-docbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-headersbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-toolsbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-tools-debuginfobefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-tools-libsbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientkernel-tools-libs-develbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientperfbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientperf-debuginfobefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientpython-perfbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientpython-perf-debuginfobefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::serverkernel-bootwrapperbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::serverkernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64before 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::serverkernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64lebefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::serverkernel-debuginfo-common-s390xbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::serverkernel-kdumpbefore 0:3.10.0-514.el70:3.10.0-514.el7

+60

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  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe…KEV
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    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2016-4565May 23, 2016 · The InfiniBand (aka IB) stack in the Linux kernel before 4.5.3 incorrectly relies on the write system call, which allows local users to…
    31Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2016-4568May 23, 2016 · drivers/media/v4l2-core/videobuf2-v4l2.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5.3 allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel memory…
    31Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2016-4578May 23, 2016 · sound/core/timer.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6 does not initialize certain r1 data structures, which allows local users to obtain…
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
debian:linux4.5.5-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-abi-whitelists0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-debuginfo0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-devel0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_640:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-devel0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-tools-debuginfo0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-tools-libs-devel0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:perf-debuginfo0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:python-perf-debuginfo0:3.10.0-514.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-compute3.12.61-60.18.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-compute_debug3.12.61-60.18.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default3.12.59-60.41.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-docs3.12.59-60.41.8 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-ec23.12.59-60.41.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-obs-build3.12.59-60.41.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt3.12.61-60.18.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt_debug3.12.61-60.18.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source3.12.59-60.41.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms3.12.59-60.41.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-xen3.12.59-60.41.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_51-2.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
none
Availability
none
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
None

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

nvd-primary

Root cause

The extension requests broader permissions than its function needs and sends the data it collects out for purposes beyond its stated function.

A representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.

Vulnerable

json
{  "permissions": ["tabs", "<all_urls>"],  "background": { "service_worker": "analytics.js" }}

Fixed

json
{  "permissions": ["activeTab"],  "host_permissions": ["https://yildiz.example/*"]}

References

All records