CVE-2016-5828: The start_thread function in arch/powerpc/kernel/process.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6.3 on powerpc platforms mishandles transactional…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 31/100)
- 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: 0.44% (FIRST EPSS).
- 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) 4.6.3-1; linux (Debian:8) 3.16.7-ckt25-2+deb8u3; kernel-default (SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1) 3.12.62-60.62.1.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to linux (Debian:12) 4.6.3-1; linux (Debian:8) 3.16.7-ckt25-2+deb8u3; kernel-default (SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1) 3.12.62-60.62.1 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 start_thread function in arch/powerpc/kernel/process.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6.3 on powerpc platforms mishandles transactional state, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (invalid process state or TM Bad Thing exception, and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact by starting and suspending a transaction before an exec system call.
- Published
- Jun 27, 2016
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.4% · 39th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-20
Report tools
Action score
31
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.4%
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
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi 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.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected 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.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux kernel | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel |
| novell | suse linux enterprise real time extension | cpe:2.3:o:novell:suse_linux_enterprise_real_time_extension |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
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 linux16.04
- debian debian linux8.0
- linux linux kernel3.19 and later · before 4.1.28
- linux linux kernel4.2 and later · before 4.4.16
- linux linux kernel3.9 and later · before 3.10.103
- linux linux kernel4.6 and later · before 4.6.5
+4 more rows
- linux linux kernel3.11 and later · before 3.14.74
- linux linux kernel3.15 and later · before 3.16.37
- linux linux kernel3.17 and later · before 3.18.37
- novell suse linux enterprise real time extension12
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | before 4.6.3-1 | 4.6.3-1 |
| Debian:8 | linux | before 3.16.7-ckt25-2+deb8u3 | 3.16.7-ckt25-2+deb8u3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | kernel-default | before 3.12.62-60.62.1 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | kernel-source | before 3.12.62-60.62.1 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | kernel-syms | before 3.12.62-60.62.1 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | kernel-xen | before 3.12.62-60.62.1 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_7 | before 1-4.2 | 1-4.2 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12 | kernel-ec2 | before 3.12.62-60.62.1 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12 | kernel-ec2 | before 3.12.61-52.66.1 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | kernel-default | before 3.12.61-52.66.1 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | kernel-source | before 3.12.61-52.66.1 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | kernel-syms | before 3.12.61-52.66.1 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | kernel-xen | before 3.12.61-52.66.1 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_19 | before 1-2.1 | 1-2.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | kernel-docs | before 3.12.62-60.62.3 | 3.12.62-60.62.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | kernel-obs-build | before 3.12.62-60.62.1 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 |
Same product
linux: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
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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…KEV89Now
- CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV85Now
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2016-5244Jun 27, 2016 · The rds_inc_info_copy function in net/rds/recv.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6.3 does not initialize a certain structure member, which…32Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2016-5728Jun 27, 2016 · Race condition in the vop_ioctl function in drivers/misc/mic/vop/vop_vringh.c in the MIC VOP driver in the Linux kernel before 4.6.1 allows…25Monitor
- Later →CVE-2016-5829Jun 27, 2016 · Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in the hiddev_ioctl_usage function in drivers/hid/usbhid/hiddev.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6.3…31Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:linux | 4.6.3-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-default | 3.12.62-60.62.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-docs | 3.12.62-60.62.3 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-ec2 | 3.12.62-60.62.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-obs-build | 3.12.62-60.62.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-source | 3.12.62-60.62.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-syms | 3.12.62-60.62.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-xen | 3.12.62-60.62.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_19 | 1-2.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_7 | 1-4.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 | Package 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.
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · 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
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-20 · Improper Input ValidationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Server Side Include (SSI) InjectionCAPEC-101likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Object Relational Mapping InjectionCAPEC-109likelihood: Low · High
- SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter TamperingCAPEC-110likelihood: High · Very High
- Double EncodingCAPEC-120likelihood: Low · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or InformationT1027
- Masquerading: Invalid Code SignatureT1036.001
- Steal Web Session CookieT1539
- Subvert Trust Controls: Code SigningT1553.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (13 more)Show less
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00044.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00055.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2574.html
- www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3616
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/25/7
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/91415
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-1
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-2
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-3
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-4
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3071-1
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3071-2
- patchwork.ozlabs.org/patch/636776/
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.