---
title: CVE-2016-2117
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-2016-2117
---

# CVE-2016-2117

Publication date 2 May 2016

Last updated 4 July 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**High**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2117#impact-score)

Toggle side navigation

## Description

The atl2\_probe function in drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atlx/atl2.c in the
Linux kernel through 4.5.2 incorrectly enables scatter/gather I/O, which
allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory
by reading packet data.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

Justin Yackoski discovered that the Atheros L2 Ethernet Driver in the Linux
kernel incorrectly enables scatter/gather I/O. A remote attacker could use
this to obtain potentially sensitive information from kernel memory.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2117#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| linux | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 4.4.0-24.43 |
| 15.10 wily | Fixed 4.2.0-38.45 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 3.13.0-87.133 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| linux-armadaxp | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| linux-aws | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-flo | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-gke | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-goldfish | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-grouper | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-hwe | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-hwe-edge | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-linaro-omap | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-linaro-shared | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-linaro-vexpress | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-lts-quantal | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-lts-raring | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-lts-saucy | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-lts-trusty | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.13.0-88.135~precise1 |
| linux-lts-utopic | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 3.16.0-73.95~14.04.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-lts-vivid | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 3.19.0-61.69~14.04.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-lts-wily | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 4.2.0-38.45~14.04.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-lts-xenial | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 4.4.0-24.43~14.04.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-maguro | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-mako | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-manta | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-qcm-msm | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| linux-raspi2 | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 4.4.0-1012.16 |
| 15.10 wily | Fixed 4.2.0-1031.41 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-snapdragon | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 4.4.0-1015.18 |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-ti-omap4 | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2117#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

The atl2 ethernet driver is the only driver that discloses memory to
ethernet in the default configuration

---

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

android kernels (flo, goldfish, grouper, maguro, mako and manta) are
not supported on the Ubuntu Touch 14.10 and earlier preview kernels
linux-lts-saucy no longer receives official support
linux-lts-quantal no longer receives official support

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| linux | * Introduced by   [ec5f061](https://git.kernel.org/linus/ec5f061564238892005257c83565a0b58ec79295),   fixed by   [f43bfae](https://git.kernel.org/linus/f43bfaeddc79effbf3d0fcb53ca477cca66f3db8) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-2117)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2117)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-2117)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2117)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3003-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3003-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-3000-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3000-1)
+ Linux kernel (Utopic HWE) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-3001-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3001-1)
+ Linux kernel (Vivid HWE) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-3005-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3005-1)
+ Linux kernel (Xenial HWE) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-2989-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2989-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 1 June 2016

+ [USN-3007-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3007-1)
+ Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi 2) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-3006-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3006-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-3002-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3002-1)
+ Linux kernel (Wily HWE) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-2998-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2998-1)
+ Linux kernel (Trusty HWE) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

+ [USN-3004-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3004-1)
+ Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi 2) vulnerabilities
+ 10 June 2016

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/03/16/7>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2117>
