CVE-2014-0196
CVE-2014-0196 is a security flaw in Linux Kernel, the core of Linux, which runs most servers, Android phones and many home routers. Someone who already has a way in can corrupt memory in Linux Kernel to take more control. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 12 May 2023.[1]
Linux Kernel is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Linux has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a race condition in Linux Kernel. In its words: “Linux Kernel contains a race condition vulnerability within the n_tty_write function that allows local users to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) or gain privileges via read and write operations with long strings.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “The n_tty_write function in drivers/tty/n_tty.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14.3 does not properly manage tty driver access in the "LECHO & !OPOST" case, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and system crash) or gain privileges by triggering a race condition involving read and write operations with long strings.”[2]
The underlying weakness is race condition (CWE-362), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 5.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Linux’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Linux Kernel.
Most families won’t have Linux Kernel; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 12 May 2023, 3,292 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 2 Jun 2023 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 20%. That’s in the top 3% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Linux has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Linux Kernel is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 2 Jun 2023 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 5.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 20%.[4] |
See also
Other Linux Kernel flaws
- CVE-2026-46300: missing initialization of a variable ·
- CVE-2026-53266: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-39964: race condition ·
- CVE-2025-39682: improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions ·
- CVE-2026-53362: unspecified ·
- CVE-2022-0995: out-of-bounds write ·
Other race condition flaws
- CVE-2025-62215, Microsoft Windows: race condition ·
- CVE-2023-36884, Microsoft Windows: search remote code execution ·
- CVE-2021-25395, Samsung Mobile Devices: race condition ·
- CVE-2021-0920, Android Kernel: race condition ·
- CVE-2022-26904, Microsoft Windows: user profile service privilege escalation ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-25717, Ruckus Wireless products: multiple ruckus wireless products CSRF and RCE ·
- CVE-2021-3560, Red Hat Polkit: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2016-8735, Apache Tomcat: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2016-3427, Oracle Java SE and JRockit: unspecified ·
- CVE-2015-5317, Jenkins User Interface (UI): user interface (UI) information disclosure ·
Every Linux flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in May 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 12 May 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2014-0196 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 7 May 2014.
- ^ Linux. Advisories and fixes: lkml.iu.edu, bugzilla.redhat.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.203, percentile 97.5, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2014-0196”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.