// For flags

CVE-2016-3157

Ubuntu Security Notice USN-2997-1

Severity Score

7.8
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

The __switch_to function in arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c in the Linux kernel does not properly context-switch IOPL on 64-bit PV Xen guests, which allows local guest OS users to gain privileges, cause a denial of service (guest OS crash), or obtain sensitive information by leveraging I/O port access.

La función __switch_to en arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c en el kernel de Linux no sustituye correctamente el conmutador de contexto IOPL en invitados 64-bit PV Xen, lo que permite a usuarios locales del SO invitado obtener privilegios, provocar una denegación de servicio (caída del SO invitado), u obtener información sensible aprovechando el puerto de acceso I/O.

Ralf Spenneberg discovered that the Aiptek Tablet USB device driver in the Linux kernel did not properly sanity check the endpoints reported by the device. An attacker with physical access could cause a denial of service (system crash). Ben Hawkes discovered that the Linux kernel's AIO interface allowed single writes greater than 2GB, which could cause an integer overflow when writing to certain filesystems, socket or device types. A local attacker could this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. Various other issues were also addressed.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2016-03-15 CVE Reserved
  • 2016-04-12 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-05 CVE Updated
  • 2025-06-21 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-264: Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Xen
Search vendor "Xen"
Xen
Search vendor "Xen" for product "Xen"
4.0.0
Search vendor "Xen" for product "Xen" and version "4.0.0"
-
Affected
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
12.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "12.04"
lts
Affected