# CVE-2016-5195: Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-5195-linux-kernel-race-condition-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-03-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-5195 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-03

A race condition in the Linux kernel's mm/gup.c, known as 'Dirty COW', allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging incorrect handling of the copy-on-write (COW) feature. An attacker can exploit this to write to read-only memory mappings.

Technologies: [Linux Kernel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/kernel). Vendors: [Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/linux).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-5195 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2016-5195 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2016-5195?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 3 March 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Linux Linux Kernel 2.x through 4.x before 4.8.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-5195?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2016-5195 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-5195?** Check whether you run Linux Kernel. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Linux Linux Kernel 2.x through 4.x before 4.8.3

## Timeline

- 2016-10: exploited: Exploited in the wild in October 2016.
- 2022-03-03: disclosed

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