kernel: overlayfs: missing upper dentry verification before unlink and rename
Published Aug 6, 2016
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 0.51%
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.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-0:3.10.0-327.36.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2016:1847
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt-0:3.10.0-327.36.1.rt56.237.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2016:1875
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-0:3.10.0-327.36.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2016:1847 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt-0:3.10.0-327.36.1.rt56.237.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2016:1875 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue is not present in the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 5 and 6. This issue affects the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and MRG-2. Future Linux kernel updates for the respective releases may address this issue.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.51% (0.00505) | 40.91th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.49% (0.00490) | 38.05th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.04% (0.00036) | 7.72th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00044) | 11.89th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 2, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00044) | 10.25th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00044) | 8.24th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 74.98th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 23, 2023 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 74.94th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 72.92th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 51.82th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (17)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/11/8 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91709 vdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036273 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-3 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-4 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-6197 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1355650 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6197
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6197
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.