What is CVE-2016-5195?

CVE-2016-5195 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, classified as a Race Condition flaw (CWE-362). CVE-2016-5195 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-5195?

CVE-2016-5195 has a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-5195?

Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for CVE-2016-5195 patch availability.

Is CVE-2016-5195 actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-5195 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild with a CVSS score of 7.0 (High severity).

What is Race Condition (CWE-362)?

The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, creating unexpected states. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/362.html

CVE-2016-5195

High KEV — Actively Exploited

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."

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2016-11-10

Last modified 2026-04-21

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

7.0

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

High

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-362

CVE-2016-5195 is a Race Condition vulnerability

What is Race Condition?

The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, creating unexpected states. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

128 total

Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139277/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0012-1.html

Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139286/DirtyCow-Linux-Kernel-Race-Condition.html

Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139287/DirtyCow-Local-Root-Proof-Of-Concept.html

Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139922/Linux-Kernel-Dirty-COW-PTRACE_POKEDATA-Privilege-Escalation.html

Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139923/Linux-Kernel-Dirty-COW-PTRACE_POKEDATA-Privilege-Escalation.html

Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry

Showing 5 of 128 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2016-5195

Severity High

CVSS score 7.0 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2016-11-10

Modified 2026-04-21

KEV Yes

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-5195?

CVE-2016-5195 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10 , classified as a Race Condition flaw (CWE-362) . CVE-2016-5195 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-5195?

CVE-2016-5195 has a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2016-5195?

Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for CVE-2016-5195 patch availability.
Is CVE-2016-5195 actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-5195 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. It carries a CVSS score of 7.0 (High severity).