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Vulnerability record · CVE-2016-6197 · published 6 August 2016

CVE-2016-6197: Oracle linux improper input validation vulnerability

Oracle · Linux

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.

5.5 CVSS 3.0 Medium EPSS 0.51% · top 59.3% CWE-20 · Improper input validation
5.5CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 4.9
0.51%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
3Affected product versions listed by NVD
28References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

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:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

3 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185 Issue TrackingPatch
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.html
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/11/8 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91709
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036273
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-1
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-2
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-3
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-4
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1355650 Issue Tracking
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185 Issue TrackingPatch
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185 Issue TrackingPatch
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1847.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1875.html
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/11/8 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91709
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036273
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-1
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-2
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-3
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3070-4
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1355650 Issue Tracking
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185 Issue TrackingPatch

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2016-6197), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.