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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2016-8659 Bubblewrap Project CVE debrief

CVE-2016-8659 describes a Bubblewrap flaw where PR_SET_DUMPABLE is set in a way that may let local users attach to the process and potentially gain privileges. The supplied NVD record rates the issue High with a local attack vector and lists affected versions through 0.1.1, while the CVE description says the problem affects Bubblewrap before 0.1.3. Treat this as a local privilege-escalation exposure affecting systems that rely on Bubblewrap for isolation or privilege separation.

Vendor
Bubblewrap Project
Product
Bubblewrap
CVSS
HIGH 7
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-02-13
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-02-13
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Linux administrators, container and sandboxing platform operators, distro maintainers, and anyone deploying Bubblewrap in environments where untrusted local users may have access.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is associated with Bubblewrap setting PR_SET_DUMPABLE, which can make a process attachable by local users under certain conditions. The CVE description says this might allow privilege gain by attaching to the process, with one demonstrated path involving commands sent to a PrivSep socket. NVD maps the issue to CVSS v3.0 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H and CWE-264.

Defensive priority

High for systems running affected Bubblewrap builds, especially where local users or container workloads can interact with the process. The attack requires local access and additional conditions, but the potential impact is full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise of the targeted process context.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Inventory Bubblewrap deployments and determine the installed version on every host or image.
  • Upgrade to a Bubblewrap release that includes the fix; the CVE description says versions before 0.1.3 are affected, and NVD currently marks versions through 0.1.1 as vulnerable.
  • Restrict local access on systems where Bubblewrap is used, especially shared hosts and multi-tenant environments.
  • Review sandboxing or privilege-separation workflows that rely on Bubblewrap and confirm they do not expose sensitive privileged processes to local attachment.
  • Monitor vendor or distribution advisories referenced by the CVE record for package-specific backports and remediation guidance.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based on the supplied CVE record and NVD metadata. The description states Bubblewrap before 0.1.3 sets PR_SET_DUMPABLE and may allow local users to gain privileges by attaching to the process; the NVD CPE mapping currently lists vulnerability coverage through 0.1.1. The NVD CVSS vector is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The CVE metadata also references Openwall oss-security mailing list posts and a GitHub issue as third-party advisory/patch references.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-8659 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8659

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2016-8659 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8659

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.