CVE-2016-2187: Null Pointer Dereference

Published Mar 11, 2016
·
Updated

A flaw was found in in the Linux kernel's USB device management code which could cause a crash when a device which required gtco module. The kernel would panic causing null pointer dereference attempting to access invalid USB device descriptors.

Product bug:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/showbug.cgi?id=1283385

Intended to be public via:

http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2016/Mar/86

Public via:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/showbug.cgi?id=1283385

Proposed upstream patch (linux-usb@ and linux-input@ lists):

http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-usb/msg137950.html http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-input/msg43786.html

Upstream patch:

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=162f98dea487206d9ab79fc12ed64700667a894d

Other sources

The gtcoprobe function in drivers/input/tablet/gtco.c in the Linux kernel through 4.5.2 allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) via a crafted endpoints value in a USB device descriptor.

— Launchpad

Affected Software

38 affected componentsFixes available
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=15.10
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Linux Linux kernel<=4.5.2
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit=11.0-sp4
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Debuginfo=11-sp4
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server=11-extra
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server=11-sp4
ubuntu/linux<3.13.0-87.133
3.13.0-87.133
ubuntu/linux-lts-utopic<3.16.0-73.95~14.04.1
3.16.0-73.95~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux-lts-vivid<3.19.0-61.69~14.04.1
3.19.0-61.69~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux-lts-wily<4.2.0-38.45~14.04.1
4.2.0-38.45~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial<4.4.0-24.43~14.04.1
4.4.0-24.43~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux<4.4.0-24.43
4.4.0-24.43
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.4.0-1012.16
4.4.0-1012.16
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.4.0-1015.18
4.4.0-1015.18
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.116-17.2.15-17.3.4-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.13.0-87.133
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lts-utopic to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.16.0-73.95~14.04.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lts-vivid to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.19.0-61.69~14.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lts-wily to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.2.0-38.45~14.04.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-24.43~14.04.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-24.43
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1012.16
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-snapdragon to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1015.18
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.116-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1Fixed in 7.3.4-1

Event History

Mar 11, 2016
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·05:23 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
May 2, 2016
CVE Published
via OSV·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via OSV·12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Description

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2016-2187?

CVE-2016-2187 has been classified with high severity due to its potential to cause kernel panics and crashes in affected systems.

2

How do I fix CVE-2016-2187?

To fix CVE-2016-2187, update the Linux kernel to the recommended versions including 5.10.223-1 or later versions.

3

Which versions of Ubuntu are affected by CVE-2016-2187?

CVE-2016-2187 affects Ubuntu versions 12.04, 14.04, 15.10, and 16.04 LTS.

4

What Linux distributions are impacted by CVE-2016-2187?

CVE-2016-2187 impacts various Linux distributions including Ubuntu and SUSE Linux versions specified in the vulnerability report.

5

Is CVE-2016-2187 related to USB device management in Linux?

Yes, CVE-2016-2187 is specifically related to a flaw in the Linux kernel's USB device management code.

Company

Resources

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