CVE-2016-2550
Published Apr 27, 2016 · Updated Oct 23, 2026
Original summary
Normalized public record · Updated Oct 23, 2026
The Linux kernel before 4.5 allows local users to bypass file-descriptor limits and cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by leveraging incorrect tracking of descriptor ownership and sending each descriptor over a UNIX socket before closing it. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2013-4312.
Publisher and source text is retained separately from QFinch interpretation.
QFinch assessment
The Linux kernel before 4.5 allows local users to bypass file-descriptor limits and cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by leveraging incorrect tracking of descriptor ownership and sending each descriptor over a UNIX socket before closing it. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2013-4312.
Evidence: public source recordsAffected products
| Affected package, product or range | Fix status |
|---|---|
| Consult the referenced vendor advisory for affected versions. | Consult source advisory |
Matching a version is only one part of assessing exposure. QFinch has not assessed your environment on this public page.
Remediation
Apply the vendor-supported fixed release or mitigation, then verify the affected component is no longer reachable.
- Confirm the affected product and reachable code path exist in your environment.
- Apply the vendor-supported patch or mitigation from the primary advisory.
- Rescan the exact deployed revision and retain verification evidence.
Evidence coverage
- SSVC priority
- LOW
- Confidence
- Not available
- Aliases
- None reported
Scores appear only when corresponding evidence exists. Missing data is never interpreted as zero risk.
Sources and record history
- bugzilla.redhat.com ↗
- www.oracle.com ↗
- USN-2949-1 ↗
- [oss-security] 20160223 CVE Request: Linux: unix: correctly track in-flight fds in sending process user_struct sockets ↗
- DSA-3503 ↗
- Patch commit ↗
- USN-2947-3 ↗
- USN-2947-2 ↗
- USN-2947-1 ↗
- USN-2946-2 ↗
- USN-2948-1 ↗
- USN-2946-1 ↗
Record history
Published Apr 27, 2016 · Last refreshed Oct 23, 2026