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.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 4.6.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.6.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.6.1-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-36.55 | USN-3070-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1021.27 | USN-3070-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1024.27 | USN-3070-3 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-36.55~14.04.1 | USN-3070-4 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-327.36.1.rt56.237.el7 | RHSA-2016:1875 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +18 | 3.10.0-327.36.1.el7 | RHSA-2016:1847 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-37.6.1.el6uek | 0.5.2-1.el6 | ELSA-2016-3587 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-37.6.1.el7uek | 0.5.2-1.el7 | ELSA-2016-3587 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 4.1.12-37.6.1.el7uek | ELSA-2016-3587 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2016:1875 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1847 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-3070-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3070-2 linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3070-3 linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3070-4 linux-lts-xenial vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- ELSA-2016-3587 Important: kernel-uek security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 29, 2016
References
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- USN-3070-1 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1355650
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
- RHSA-2016:1847 vendor-advisory
- 91709 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2016:1875 vendor-advisory
- USN-3070-3 vendor-advisory
- 1036273 vdb-entry
- USN-3070-2 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/11f3710417d026ea2f4fcf362d866342c5274185
- [oss-security] 20160711 Re: cvs request: local DoS using rename syscall on overlayfs on top of xfs to crash the kernel - Linux kernel mailing-list
- USN-3070-4 vendor-advisory