---
title: "CVE-2015-2808\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-2808?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2015-2808

Publication date 31 March 2015

Last updated 6 June 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**3.7 · Low**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-2808?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The RC4 algorithm, as used in the TLS protocol and SSL protocol, does not
properly combine state data with key data during the initialization phase,
which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct plaintext-recovery
attacks against the initial bytes of a stream by sniffing network traffic
that occasionally relies on keys affected by the Invariance Weakness, and
then using a brute-force approach involving LSB values, aka the "Bar
Mitzvah" issue.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-2808?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| openjdk-6 | 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Fixed 6b36-1.13.8-0ubuntu1~15.04.1 |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 6b36-1.13.8-0ubuntu1~14.04 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 6b36-1.13.8-0ubuntu1~12.04 |
| openjdk-7 | 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Fixed 7u79-2.5.6-0ubuntu1.15.04.1 |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 7u79-2.5.6-0ubuntu1.14.04.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 7u79-2.5.6-0ubuntu1.12.04.1 |
| openjdk-8 | 15.10 wily | Fixed 8u66-b17-1 |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [tyhicks](https://launchpad.net/~tyhicks)

This is an RC4 protocol flaw and it is not specific to an Ubuntu
package

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

3.7 · Low

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | High |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | Low |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 3.7 · Low |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2015-2808)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-2808)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2015-2808)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2015-2808)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [2696-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/2696-1)
+ OpenJDK 7 vulnerabilities
+ 30 July 2015

+ [USN-2706-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2706-1)
+ OpenJDK 6 vulnerabilities
+ 6 August 2015

+ [USN-2696-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2696-1)
+ OpenJDK 7 vulnerabilities
+ 30 July 2015

### Other references

* <https://www.blackhat.com/docs/asia-15/materials/asia-15-Mantin-Bar-Mitzvah-Attack-Breaking-SSL-With-13-Year-Old-RC4-Weakness-wp.pdf>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-2808>