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CVE-2021-47496

Linux Kernel buffer overflow

9.8 CRITICALEPSS 0.48%
  1. Published22 May 2024

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/tls: Fix flipped sign in tls_err_abort() calls sk->sk_err appears to expect a positive value, a convention that ktls doesn't always follow and that leads to memory corruption in other code. For instance, [kworker] tls_encrypt_done(..., err=<negative error from crypto request>) tls_err_abort(.., err) sk->sk_err = err; [task] splice_from_pipe_feed ... tls_sw_do_sendpage if (sk->sk_err) { ret = -sk->sk_err; // ret is positive splice_from_pipe_feed (continued) ret = actor(...) // ret is still positive and interpreted as bytes // written, resulting in underflow of buf->len and // sd->len, leading to huge buf->offset and bogus // addresses computed in later calls to actor() Fix all tls_err_abort() callers to pass a negative error code consistently and centralize the error-prone sign flip there, throwing in a warning to catch future misuse and uninlining the function so it really does only warn once.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorNetwork
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredNone
User interactionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

Linux Kernel≥ 4.17 < 5.4.157 · ≥ 5.11 < 5.14.16 · ≥ 5.5 < 5.10.77 · 5.15

Frequently asked

Is CVE-2021-47496 being actively exploited?

CVE-2021-47496 is not in the CISA KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit probability is 0.48%.

How severe is CVE-2021-47496?

CVE-2021-47496 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated critical. EPSS estimates a 0.48% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2021-47496?

Affected products include Linux Kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2021-47496?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example Linux Kernel 5.4.157 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-47496 against the real software inventory on every managed device, every day. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.