CVE-2016-5195
HighExploitedPublic exploitRace condition in mm/gup.c in the Linux kernel 2.x through 4.x before 4.8.3 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging incorrect handling of a copy-on-write (COW) feature to write to a read-only memory mapping, as exploited in the wild in October 2016, aka "Dirty COW."
Published Nov 10, 2016 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2016-5195, Dirty COW, DirtyCow, SUSE-SU-2016:2585-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2592-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2593-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2596-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2614-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2629-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2630-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2631-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2634-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2635-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2637-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2638-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2657-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2673-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-5195, USN-3105-1, USN-3106-1, USN-3106-2, USN-3106-3, USN-3106-4
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2016-5195 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.0 v3.1) affecting Cloud Backup (Netapp), Hci Storage Nodes (Netapp), Oncommand Balance (Netapp) and 22 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Oct 18, 2016. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 84% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including bbswitch 0.8-3.22.1, bbswitch-debugsource 0.8-3.22.1, bbswitch-kmp-default 0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
7.0
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
84%
Higher than 99.6% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2016-5195 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
Race condition in mm/gup.c in the Linux kernel 2.x through 4.x before 4.8.3 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging incorrect handling of a copy-on-write (COW) feature to write to a read-only memory mapping, as exploited in the wild in October 2016, aka "Dirty COW."
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 24, 2022 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Oct 18, 2016 | Mar 24, 2022 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 24, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Mar 3, 2022 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
925 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud BackupNetapp | See advisory | n/a |
| Hci Storage NodesNetapp | See advisory | n/a |
| Oncommand BalanceNetapp | See advisory | n/a |
| Oncommand Performance ManagerNetapp | See advisory | n/a |
| Oncommand Unified Manager For Clustered Data OntapNetapp | See advisory | n/a |
Patched Releases
bbswitch
0.8-3.22.1
bbswitch-debugsource
0.8-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-default
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-default-debuginfo
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-desktop
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-desktop-debuginfo
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-pae
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-pae-debuginfo
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-xen
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
bbswitch-kmp-xen-debuginfo
0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1
cloop
2.639-14.22.1
cloop-debuginfo
2.639-14.22.1
cloop-debugsource
2.639-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-default
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-default-debuginfo
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-desktop
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-desktop-debuginfo
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-pae
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-pae-debuginfo
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-xen
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
cloop-kmp-xen-debuginfo
2.639_k3.16.7_45-14.22.1
crash
7.0.8-22.1
crash-debuginfo
7.0.8-22.1
crash-debugsource
7.0.8-22.1
crash-devel
7.0.8-22.1
Timeline
Added to Industry KEV feed
Oct 18, 2016
Publicly disclosed
Nov 10, 2016
Added to CISA KEV
Mar 3, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Mar 3, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Mar 3, 2022
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-362 Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
References
- advisoryhttp://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-16-063
- advisoryhttp://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10770
- advisoryhttp://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10774
- advisoryhttp://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10807
- advisoryopenSUSE-SU-2020:0554
FAQ
Common Questions.
Race condition in mm/gup.c in the Linux kernel 2.x through 4.x before 4.8.3 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging incorrect handling of a copy-on-write (COW) feature to write to a read-only memory mapping, as exploited in the wild in October 2016, aka "Dirty COW."
Affected: Cloud Backup (Netapp); Hci Storage Nodes (Netapp); Oncommand Balance (Netapp), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Oct 18, 2016.
Yes. It was added on Mar 3, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Mar 24, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including bbswitch 0.8-3.22.1, bbswitch-debugsource 0.8-3.22.1, bbswitch-kmp-default 0.8_k3.16.7_45-3.22.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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