Description
The ovl_setattr function in fs/overlayfs/inode.c in the Linux kernel through 4.3.3 attempts to merge distinct setattr operations, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and modify the attributes of arbitrary overlay files via a crafted application.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 4.3.3-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.3.3-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.3.3-3 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-vivid | 3.19.0-43.49~14.04.1 | USN-2857-2 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-wily | 4.2.0-23.28~14.04.1 | USN-2858-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-327.28.2.rt56.234.el7_2 | RHSA-2016:1541 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +18 | 3.10.0-327.28.2.el7 | RHSA-2016:1539 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 1:3.10.0-327.rt56.194.el6rt | RHSA-2016:1532 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-docs +1 | 3.12.53-60.30.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.53-60.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | lttng-modules | 2.7.0-3.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 | 3.12.53-60.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.53-60.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | lttng-modules | 2.7.0-3.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_0 | 3-8.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:0751-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_1 | 3-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0755-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_2 | 2-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0752-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_3 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 4.8.13-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-37.6.2.el6uek | 0.5.2-1.el6 | ELSA-2016-3593 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-37.6.2.el7uek | 0.5.2-1.el7 | ELSA-2016-3593 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 4.1.12-37.6.2.el7uek | ELSA-2016-3593 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-327.28.2.el7 | ELSA-2016-1539 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Overlayfs Privilege Escalation
exploit/linux/local/overlayfs_priv_esc
Exploit-DB 3
- Linux Kernel (Ubuntu / Fedora / RedHat) - 'Overlayfs' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit) EDB-40688 · local · Nov 2, 2016 · verified
- Linux Kernel 4.3.3 - 'overlayfs' Local Privilege Escalation (2) EDB-39230 · local · Jan 12, 2016
- Linux Kernel 4.3.3 (Ubuntu 14.04/15.10) - 'overlayfs' Local Privilege Escalation (1) EDB-39166 · local · Jan 5, 2016 · verified
GitHub 3 repositories
-
whu-enjoy/CVE-2015-8660 ★ 3 · Apr 14, 2016
这个代码包含了CVE-2015-8660漏洞的利用代码，还有注释，出现问题的源代码，打了补丁后的代码
-
carradolly/CVE-2015-8660 ★ 0 · Sep 10, 2024
-
nhamle2/CVE-2015-8660 ★ 0 · Jan 15, 2023
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 12
- RHSA-2016:1541 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1532 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1539 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-2857-2 linux-lts-vivid vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-2858-2 linux-lts-wily vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0585-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 kernel-debug-4.8.13-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0755-1 Security update for kernel live patch 1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0752-1 Security update for kernel live patch 2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0751-1 Security update for kernel live patch 0 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2016-3593 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 4, 2016
- ELSA-2016-1539 Important: kernel security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 2, 2016
References
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- 39166 exploit
- SUSE-SU-2016:0751 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:0755 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135151/Ubuntu-14.04-LTS-15.10-overlayfs-Local-Root.html
- 1034548 vdb-entry
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=acff81ec2c79492b180fade3c2894425cd35a545
- RHSA-2016:1541 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/acff81ec2c79492b180fade3c2894425cd35a545
- 40688 exploit
- [oss-security] 20151223 CVE request -- linux kernel: overlay: fix permission checking for setattr mailing-list
- RHSA-2016:1539 vendor-advisory
- USN-2857-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:1532 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1291329
- 39230 exploit
- USN-2858-2 vendor-advisory
- USN-2858-3 vendor-advisory
- USN-2858-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2857-1 vendor-advisory
- 79671 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SU-2016:0752 vendor-advisory