---
title: "CVE-2016-3697\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-2016-3697?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-3697

Publication date 1 June 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-3697?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

libcontainer/user/user.go in runC before 0.1.0, as used in Docker before
1.11.2, improperly treats a numeric UID as a potential username, which
allows local users to gain privileges via a numeric username in the
password file in a container.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-3697?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| docker.io | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| runc | 17.04 zesty | Fixed 1.0.0~rc2+docker1.12.6-0ubuntu1 |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 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

---

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

debian claims that the code is not present in docker.io.
in all the case runc is not affected anyway.

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-3697)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3697)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-3697)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-3697)

### Other references

* <https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/69af385de62ea68e2e608335cffbb0f4aa3db091 (runc, v0.1.0)>
* <https://github.com/docker/docker/commit/da38ac6c79fe902ed0687afc73d731c95c6d491a (docker)>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-3697>