CVE-2016-6197: linux linux_kernel Improper Input Validation
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2016-6197 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in linux linux_kernel. EPSS estimates a 0.51% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 43.2% of scored vulnerabilities.
Not severe (CVSS 5.5, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 6 · Related 4Timeline
- 06-08-2016PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 06-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
fs/overlayfs/dir.c in the OverlayFS filesystem implementation in the Linux kernel before 4.6 does not properly verify the upper dentry before proceeding with unlink and rename system-call processing, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a rename system call that specifies a self-hardlink.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 3 sources · 2 versions- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.51%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
43%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.51% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Ubuntu17 products
- linuxAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 4.4.0-36.55
- linux-azure-6.11All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-azure-fdeAll versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-azure-fde-5.15All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-gcp-6.11All versions (No fix recorded)
Debian1 product
- linux< 4.6.1-1
Linux1 product
- linux_kernel≤ 4.5.7
4 vendors · 21 products
References
23 links- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.htmlX Refsource CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlX Refsource CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
Show all 23 references
- github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185X Refsource CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch
