CVE-2016-2188: 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 iowarrior driver. The kernel would panic causing null pointer dereference attempting to access non existent endpoints.

Product bug:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/showbug.cgi?id=1283390

Other sources

The iowarriorprobe function in drivers/usb/misc/iowarrior.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5.1 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

19 affected componentsFixes available
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit=11.0-sp4
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit=12.0
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit=12.0-sp1
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Debuginfo=11.0-sp4
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop=12.0
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop=12.0-sp1
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Live Patching=12.0
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Module For Public Cloud=12.0
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Real Time Extension=11.0-sp4
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Real Time Extension=12.0-sp1
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server=11.0-extra
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server=11.0-sp4
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server=12.0
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server=12.0-sp1
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension=12.0
Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension=12.0-sp1
Linux Linux kernel<=4.5.0
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
debian/linux
5.10.223-15.10.234-16.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.25-16.12.27-1

Event History

Mar 11, 2016
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·05:25 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
May 2, 2016
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Description
Jan 11, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·10:16 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
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2016-2188?

CVE-2016-2188 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability that can cause a kernel panic leading to system crashes.

2

How do I fix CVE-2016-2188?

To fix CVE-2016-2188, upgrade your Linux kernel to at least version 5.10.223-1 or apply the necessary patches from your distribution.

3

Which systems are affected by CVE-2016-2188?

CVE-2016-2188 affects various SUSE Linux Enterprise versions and specific versions of the Linux kernel, with a range of distributions such as Ubuntu.

4

What types of attacks can exploit CVE-2016-2188?

CVE-2016-2188 may be exploited through the connection of USB devices requiring the iowarrior driver, causing a null pointer dereference.

5

Is CVE-2016-2188 specific to USB devices?

Yes, CVE-2016-2188 specifically affects the USB device management code in the Linux kernel, leading to potential crashes when certain USB devices are connected.

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