Description
The sock_setsockopt function in net/core/sock.c in the Linux kernel before 4.8.14 mishandles negative values of sk_sndbuf and sk_rcvbuf, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability for a crafted setsockopt system call with the (1) SO_SNDBUFFORCE or (2) SO_RCVBUFFORCE option.
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 | 4.8.15-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.8.15-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.8.15-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.84-1 | DLA-772-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-59.80 | USN-3169-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1003.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1040.47 | USN-3169-3 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1044.48 | USN-3169-4 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-107.154 | USN-3168-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-vivid | 3.19.0-79.87~14.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-59.80~14.04.1 | USN-3169-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-514.16.1.rt56.437.el7 | RHSA-2017:0931 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +18 | 3.10.0-514.16.1.el7 | RHSA-2017:0933 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 1:3.10.0-514.rt56.219.el6rt | RHSA-2017:0932 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-docs | 4.4.38-93.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:0181-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +3 | 4.4.38-93.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0181-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-docs | 3.12.69-60.64.29.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +4 | 3.12.69-60.64.29.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 +4 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1, SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_19 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kernel-docs | 3.0.101-94.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:0437-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kernel-ec2 +8 | 3.0.101-94.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0437-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | kernel-ec2 +7 | 3.0.101-0.47.96.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0494-1 |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP2 | kernel-ec2 +6 | 3.0.101-0.7.53.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0333-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.38-93.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0181-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.69-60.64.29.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_19 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | kernel-ec2 +8 | 3.0.101-94.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0437-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP1 | kernel-rt +5 | 3.12.69-60.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0407-1 |
| SLE Real Time 11 SP4 | kernel-rt +3 | 3.0.101.rt130-68.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1102-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_12 | 1-4.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_4 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0181-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | kernel-ec2 +6 | 3.0.101-0.47.96.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0494-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 2.1 | kernel-ec2 +6 | 3.0.101-0.47.96.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0494-1 |
| SUSE Manager 2.1 | kernel-ec2 +6 | 3.0.101-0.47.96.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0494-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | kernel-ec2 +6 | 3.0.101-0.47.96.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0494-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-118.16.2.el6uek | 0.4.5-3.el6 | ELSA-2017-3509 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-118.16.2.el7uek | 0.4.5-3.el7 | ELSA-2017-3509 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-61.1.25.el6uek | 0.5.3-2.el6 | ELSA-2017-3508 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-61.1.25.el7uek | 0.5.3-2.el7 | ELSA-2017-3508 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 3.8.13-118.16.2.el7uek | ELSA-2017-3509, ELSA-2017-3508 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-514.16.1.el7 | ELSA-2017-0933 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 3.11 < 4.8 0 - 'SO_SNDBUFFORCE' / 'SO_RCVBUFFORCE' Local Privilege Escalation EDB-41995 · local · Mar 22, 2017
GitHub 1 repository
-
WhatsWrongAndWhy/CVE-2016-9793 ★ 0 · Jul 15, 2026
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 20
- RHSA-2017:0933 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0932 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0931 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- USN-3169-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3168-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-772-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3169-2 linux-lts-xenial vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3169-3 linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3169-4 linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1102-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0494-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0407-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0333-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0181-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2017:0437-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2017-0933 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Apr 12, 2017
- ELSA-2017-3509 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jan 12, 2017
- ELSA-2017-3508 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jan 12, 2017
References
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b98b0bc8c431e3ceb4b26b0dfc8db509518fb290
- 1037968 vdb-entry
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=b98b0bc8c431e3ceb4b26b0dfc8db509518fb290
- RHSA-2017:0932 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/xairy/kernel-exploits/tree/master/CVE-2016-9793
- 94655 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20161202 Re: CVE Request: Linux: signed overflows for SO_{SND|RCV}BUFFORCE mailing-list
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.8.14
- RHSA-2017:0933 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:0931 vendor-advisory
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-03-01.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1402013