fs/namespace.c in the Linux kernel before 4.9 does not restrict how many mounts may exist…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
fs/namespace.c in the Linux kernel before 4.9 does not restrict how many mounts may exist in a mount namespace, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and deadlock) via MS_BIND mount system calls, as demonstrated by a loop that triggers exponential growth in the number of mounts.
Why it matters now
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
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2017:1842 Released 2017-08-01 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-693.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-693.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-bootwrapper-3.10.0-693.el7 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-doc-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-693.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.el7
- RHSA-2017:2077 Released 2017-08-01 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7 +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1842 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2077 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2077 |
Not affected: 7 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-6213
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wwfp-4jrf-hfh5
References
Patch 2
Advisory 2
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
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- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2016-6213 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-6213 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wwfp-4jrf-hfh5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-6213 · 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