The overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel through 4.5.2 does not properly maintain…
Priority LOW 36CWE-269Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
The overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel through 4.5.2 does not properly maintain POSIX ACL xattr data, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging a group-writable setgid directory.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00923 60th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 4.5.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_core:15.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 16.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_touch:15.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 4.5.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_core:15.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 16.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_touch:15.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-1575
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mgq6-h57w-6g82
References
Advisory 4
- http://people.canonical.com/~ubuntu-security/cve/2016/CVE-2016-1575.html
- https://launchpad.net/bugs/1534961
- [oss-security] 20160224 User Namespaces Overlayfs Xattr Setgid Privilege Escalation: Overlayfs
- [oss-security] 20211018 Re: CVE-2021-3847: OverlayFS - Potential Privilege Escalation using overlays copy_up
Sources
- CVE-2016-1575 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-1575 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mgq6-h57w-6g82 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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