PatchTheCVECVE-2016-5195: Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability
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HIGH 7.0EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTMITIGATEUPGRADEMITIGATE
CVE-2016-5195 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.0) affecting ubuntu linux, linux kernel, enterprise linux, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
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."
Why this priority
- High severity
- EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
- Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Public exploit reference
- On your watchlist
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 7.0 (High) |
| Attack vector | Local |
| Attack complexity | High |
| Privileges needed | Low |
| User interaction | None |
| EPSS exploit chance | 83.5% (top 1%) |
| CISA exploited list | Yes, fix due 2022-03-24 |
| Weakness | CWE-362 |
| Published | 2016-11-10 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
- Updated Record last modified
canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE
Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 16.10
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
linux linux kernel UPGRADE
Affected: >= 2.6.22 and < 3.2.83 · >= 3.3 and < 3.4.113 · >= 3.5 and < 3.10.104 · >= 3.11 and < 3.12.66 · >= 3.13 and < 3.16.38 · >= 3.17 and < 3.18.44 · >= 3.19 and < 4.1.35 · >= 4.2 and < 4.4.26
Fixed in: 3.2.83, 3.4.113, 3.10.104, 3.12.66, 3.16.38, 3.18.44, 4.1.35, 4.4.26, 4.7.9, 4.8.3
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE
Affected: 5 · 6.0 · 7.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
redhat enterprise linux aus MITIGATE
Affected: 6.2 · 6.4 · 6.5
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.2
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
redhat enterprise linux eus MITIGATE
Affected: 6.6 · 6.7 · 7.1
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.6
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
redhat enterprise linux long life MITIGATE
Affected: 5.6 · 5.9
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.6
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
Exact fixes by distribution
A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.
Fedora 46 · perl-Spreadsheet-XLSX · FIXED · 0.20-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-064736b436 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-064736b436
Debian 12 · linux · FIXED · 4.7.8-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux
dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "4.7.8-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 13 · linux · FIXED · 4.7.8-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux
dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "4.7.8-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
RHEL 5 · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.18-416.el5
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2124
rpm -q kernel
RHEL 5.6 Long Life · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.18-238.57.1.el5
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2127
rpm -q kernel
RHEL 5.9 Long Life · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.18-348.32.1.el5
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2126
rpm -q kernel
RHEL 6 · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.32-642.6.2.el6
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2105
rpm -q kernel
RHEL 6.2 Advanced Update Support · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.32-220.68.1.el6
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2132
rpm -q kernel
sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2016-757
Public exploits and detection
Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.
- GitHub PoC: timwr/CVE-2016-5195 (1018 stars)
- GitHub PoC: firefart/dirtycow (932 stars)
- GitHub PoC: scumjr/dirtycow-vdso (510 stars)
- Exploit-DB: Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 (x86/x64) - 'Dirty COW /proc/self/mem' Race Condition Privilege Escalation (SUID Method)
- Exploit-DB: Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW /proc/self/mem' Race Condition Privilege Escalation (/etc/passwd Method)
- Exploit-DB: Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW PTRACE_POKEDATA' Race Condition (Write Access Method)
- Exploit-DB: Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW' 'PTRACE_POKEDATA' Race Condition Privilege Escalation (/etc/passwd Method)
- Exploit-DB: Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW' /proc/self/mem Race Condition (Write Access Method)
Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Quick answers
How do I fix CVE-2016-5195?
ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; linux kernel: upgrade to 3.2.83, 3.4.113, 3.10.104, 3.12.66, 3.16.38, 3.18.44, 4.1.35, 4.4.26, 4.7.9, 4.8.3; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2016-5195 being exploited?
Yes. CVE-2016-5195 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.
What does CVE-2016-5195 affect?
CVE-2016-5195 affects ubuntu linux, linux kernel, enterprise linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.0). 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
How urgent is CVE-2016-5195?
Priority 84/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist
Software pages
Linux kernel vulnerabilities · Ubuntu vulnerabilities
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