sound/core/timer.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6 does not initialize certain r1 data…
Priority LOW 27CWE-200Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-200.
Summary
sound/core/timer.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6 does not initialize certain r1 data structures, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via crafted use of the ALSA timer interface, related to the (1) snd_timer_user_ccallback and (2) snd_timer_user_tinterrupt functions.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01202 68th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA and NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 10 fixed, 3 without a fix
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 · 20
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 4.6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| 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:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.3 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.4 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 4.6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- 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:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 10 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.3 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.4 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.5 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.3 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 42.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.5 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 42.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2016:2584 Released 2016-11-03 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-514.rt56.420.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-514.rt56.420.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-514.rt56.420.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-514.rt56.420.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-514.rt56.420.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-514.rt56.420.el7 +7
- RHSA-2016:2574 Released 2016-11-03 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-514.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-514.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-514.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-514.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-bootwrapper-3.10.0-514.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-514.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-514.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-514.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-514.el7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2574 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2584 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2584 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-4578
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mrgv-56mw-m87g
References
Exploit 1
Advisory 28
- SUSE-SU-2016:1690
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e4ec8cc8039a7063e24204299b462bd1383184a5
- USN-3017-1
- SUSE-SU-2016:1985
- USN-3017-3
- openSUSE-SU-2016:2184
- USN-3018-2
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/e4ec8cc8039a7063e24204299b462bd1383184a5
- USN-3021-2
- USN-3017-2
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1335215
- RHSA-2016:2584
- RHSA-2016:2574
- USN-3019-1
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1641
- DSA-3607
- USN-3016-2
- USN-3016-1
- SUSE-SU-2016:1672
- USN-3021-1
- USN-3018-1
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=9a47e9cff994f37f7f0dbd9ae23740d0f64f9fe6
- SUSE-SU-2016:2105
- USN-3016-3
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/9a47e9cff994f37f7f0dbd9ae23740d0f64f9fe6
- USN-3016-4
- USN-3020-1
- SUSE-SU-2016:1937
Sources
- CVE-2016-4578 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-4578 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mrgv-56mw-m87g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-4578 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences