Out-of-bounds write in Linux kernel
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
An out-of-bounds (OOB) memory write flaw was found in the NFSD in the Linux kernel. Missing sanity may lead to a write beyond bmval[bmlen-1] in nfsd4_decode_bitmap4 in fs/nfsd/nfs4xdr.c. In this flaw, a local attacker with user privilege may gain access to out-of-bounds memory, leading to a system integrity and confidentiality threat.
Why it matters now
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | kernel | 5.11 to before 5.15.5 | 5.15.5 | Patch available | CNA |
- kernel VendorLinux Affected 5.11 to before 5.15.5 Fixed in 5.15.5 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 19
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.16 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.16:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.16 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.16 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.16 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.16:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.16 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.16 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
Show 9 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410c_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410c:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410c_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410c:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
Remediation
- Fix · CNA kernel (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.5
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-4090
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rwxr-f4qj-9x36
References
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2021-4090 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-4090 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rwxr-f4qj-9x36 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-4090 · 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