CVE-2016-1572: High severity ecryptfs-utils vulnerability

Published Jan 22, 2016
·
Updated

mount.ecryptfsprivate.c in eCryptfs-utils does not validate mount destination filesystem types, which allows local users to gain privileges by mounting over a nonstandard filesystem, as demonstrated by /proc/$pid.

Affected Software

12 affected components
ecryptfs ecryptfs-utils<109
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=15.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=15.10
openSUSE Leap=42.1
openSUSE openSUSE=13.1
openSUSE openSUSE=13.2
Debian Debian Linux=7.0
Debian Debian Linux=8.0
Fedoraproject Fedora=22
Fedoraproject Fedora=23

Event History

Jan 22, 2016
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:00 PM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2016-1572?

CVE-2016-1572 has been classified as a high severity vulnerability due to its potential to allow privilege escalation.

2

How do I fix CVE-2016-1572?

To resolve CVE-2016-1572, update the eCryptfs-utils package to a version that is patched against this vulnerability.

3

Who is affected by CVE-2016-1572?

CVE-2016-1572 affects multiple versions of eCryptfs-utils across several Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and openSUSE.

4

What types of attacks can exploit CVE-2016-1572?

CVE-2016-1572 can be exploited by local users to gain elevated privileges by improperly mounting over nonstandard filesystem types.

5

What component of eCryptfs-utils is vulnerable in CVE-2016-1572?

The vulnerability in CVE-2016-1572 is found in the mount.ecryptfs_private.c component, which fails to validate mount destination filesystem types.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203