CVE-2015-8953
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path,...
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
CVE-2015-8953- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.9 Medium
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-399
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
CVE-2015-8953- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2015-8809 No score
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
EUVD-2015-8809- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-xvcx-4642-fhpw
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path,...
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
GHSA-xvcx-4642-fhpw- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
CVE-2015-8953- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2015-8953
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2015-8953- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2015-8953
fs/overlayfs/copy_up.c in the Linux kernel before 4.2.6 uses an incorrect cleanup code path, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (dentry reference leak) via filesystem operations on a large file in a lower overlayfs layer.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2015-8953- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
linuxDebian:12 |
before 4.2.6-1 | 4.2.6-1 |
linuxDebian:13 |
before 4.2.6-1 | 4.2.6-1 |
linuxDebian:14 |
before 4.2.6-1 | 4.2.6-1 |
linux-lts-vividUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 3.19.0-41.46~14.04.2, plus listed versions 3.19.0-18.18~14.04.13.19.0-20.20~14.04.13.19.0-21.21~14.04.13.19.0-22.22~14.04.13.19.0-23.24~14.04.1 Show 10 moreShow less3.19.0-25.26~14.04.13.19.0-26.28~14.04.13.19.0-28.30~14.04.13.19.0-30.33~14.04.13.19.0-30.34~14.04.13.19.0-31.36~14.04.13.19.0-32.37~14.04.13.19.0-33.38~14.04.13.19.0-37.42~14.04.13.19.0-39.44~14.04.1 |
3.19.0-41.46~14.04.2 |
linux-lts-wilyUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 4.2.0-19.23~14.04.1, plus listed versions 4.2.0-18.22~14.04.1 |
4.2.0-19.23~14.04.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2015-8953 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Linux Kernel, published October 16, 2016. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.56%, the 47th percentile. Fixed in linux 4.2.6-1.
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/08/23/9
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1367814
kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.2.6
git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit?id=ab79efab0a0ba01a74df782eb7fa44b044dae8b5
github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ab79efab0a0ba01a74df782eb7fa44b044dae8b5
securityfocus.com/bid/92611