diff --git a/modules/transport-netty4/src/main/plugin-metadata/plugin-security.policy b/modules/transport-netty4/src/main/plugin-metadata/plugin-security.policy
index 902bfdee231..ce39869d2fb 100644
--- a/modules/transport-netty4/src/main/plugin-metadata/plugin-security.policy
+++ b/modules/transport-netty4/src/main/plugin-metadata/plugin-security.policy
@@ -17,8 +17,13 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
+grant codeBase "${codebase.netty-common-4.1.6.Final.jar}" {
+   // for reading the system-wide configuration for the backlog of established sockets
+   permission java.io.FilePermission "/proc/sys/net/core/somaxconn", "read";
+};
+
 grant codeBase "${codebase.netty-transport-4.1.6.Final.jar}" {
    // Netty NioEventLoop wants to change this, because of https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-6427854
    // the bug says it only happened rarely, and that its fixed, but apparently it still happens rarely!
    permission java.util.PropertyPermission "sun.nio.ch.bugLevel", "write";
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};