CVE-2016-2069: Race Condition

Published Jan 26, 2016
·
Updated

A flaw was discovered in a way the Linux deals with paging structures. When Linux invalidates a paging structure that is not in use locally, it could, in principle, race against another CPU that is switching to a process that uses the paging structure in question.

External reference:

http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2016/q1/194

Upstream fix:

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=71b3c126e61177eb693423f2e18a1914205b165e

CVE assignment:

http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2016/q1/210

Other sources

Race condition in arch/x86/mm/tlb.c in the Linux kernel before 4.4.1 allows local users to gain privileges by triggering access to a paging structure by a different CPU.

Launchpad

Affected Software

4 affected componentsFixes available
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Linux Linux kernel<=4.4
debian/linux
5.10.223-15.10.234-16.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.22-16.12.25-1

Event History

Jan 26, 2016
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·09:58 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Apr 27, 2016
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:00 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·05:59 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jan 11, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·10:15 PM
Description
Sep 16, 2024
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·01:12 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Apr 28, 2025
Data Sourced
via Debian·03:27 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2016-2069?

CVE-2016-2069 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel that allows local users to gain privileges through a race condition in the arch/x86/mm/tlb.c file.

2

How severe is CVE-2016-2069?

CVE-2016-2069 has a severity rating of medium.

3

Which versions of Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2016-2069?

The affected versions include Linux kernel versions before 4.4.1, 3.2.0-102.142, 3.13.0-87.133, 4.5~, and 4.2.0-30.35.

4

How can I fix CVE-2016-2069?

To fix CVE-2016-2069, update your Linux kernel to version 4.4.1 or newer.

5

Where can I find more information about CVE-2016-2069?

You can find more information about CVE-2016-2069 in the references provided: http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/25/1, http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=71b3c126e61177eb693423f2e18a1914205b165e, http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.1.

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