spi: spi-zynq-qspi: Fix a NULL pointer dereference in zynq_qspi_exec_mem_op()
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
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: spi: spi-zynq-qspi: Fix a NULL pointer dereference in zynq_qspi_exec_mem_op() In zynq_qspi_exec_mem_op(), kzalloc() is directly used in memset(), which could lead to a NULL pointer dereference on failure of kzalloc(). Fix this bug by adding a check of tmpbuf. This bug was found by a static analyzer. The analysis employs differential checking to identify inconsistent security operations (e.g., checks or kfrees) between two code paths and confirms that the inconsistent operations are not recovered in the current function or the callers, so they constitute bugs. Note that, as a bug found by static analysis, it can be a false positive or hard to trigger. Multiple researchers have cross-reviewed the bug. Builds with CONFIG_SPI_ZYNQ_QSPI=m show no new warnings, and our static analyzer no longer warns about this code.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.2 and later | 5.4.182, 5.10.103, 5.15.26, 5.16.12, 5.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.2 and later Fixed in 5.4.182, 5.10.103, 5.15.26, 5.16.12, 5.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.2 to before 5.4.182; 5.5 to before 5.10.103; 5.11 to before 5.15.26; 5.16 to before 5.16.12 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.17 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.17 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.17 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.17 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.17 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.2 to before 5.4.182; 5.5 to before 5.10.103; 5.11 to before 5.15.26; 5.16 to before 5.16.12 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.17 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.17 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.17 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.17 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.17:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.17 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.182, 5.10.103, 5.15.26, 5.16.12, 5.17
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-2021-4441
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c299-229x-w5c5
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df14d2bed8e2455878e046e67123d9ecb2e79056
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2efece1368aeee2d2552c7ec36aeb676c4d4c95f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c32405d6474a21f7d742828e73c13e326dcae82
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b9dd08cbebe0c593c49bf86d2012a431494e54cb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab3824427b848da10e9fe2727f035bbeecae6ff4
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Sources
- CVE-2021-4441 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-4441 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-c299-229x-w5c5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-4441 · 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