NULL pointer dereference in Kernel
Priority LOW 25CWE-252Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networking subsystem in the way the user closes the LR-WPAN connection. This flaw allows a local user to crash the system. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00272 19th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Kernel | Fixed in Kernel 5.12 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Kernel Vendor— Affected Fixed in Kernel 5.12 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 20
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.12 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 34 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.12 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 34 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 10 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:virtualization_host:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:virtualization_host:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2021:4356 Released 2021-11-09 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-348.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-348.el8, kernel-4.18.0-348.el8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-348.el8 +19
- RHSA-2021:4140 Released 2021-11-09 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4356 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4356 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4140 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4140 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-3659
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-578w-3cjw-832g
References
Sources
- CVE-2021-3659 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-3659 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-578w-3cjw-832g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-3659 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences