Race condition in kernel
Priority LOW 21CWE-362Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- 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.
Summary
A race condition accessing file object in the Linux kernel OverlayFS subsystem was found in the way users do rename in specific way with OverlayFS. A local user could use this flaw to crash the system.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00216 12th 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 | kernel 5.15-rc5 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- kernel Vendor— Affected kernel 5.15-rc5 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.15 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| 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:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.15 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- 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:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2021:5227 Released 2021-12-21 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-348.7.1.el8_5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-348.7.1.el8_5, kernel-4.18.0-348.7.1.el8_5, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-348.7.1.el8_5 +20
- RHSA-2021:5241 Released 2021-12-21 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-348.7.1.rt7.137.el8_5, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-348.7.1.rt7.137.el8_5, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-348.7.1.rt7.137.el8_5 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-348.7.1.rt7.137.el8_5, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-348.7.1.rt7.137.el8_5, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-348.7.1.rt7.137.el8_5 +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. 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-2021:5227 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:5227 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:5241 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:5241 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-20321
References
Sources
- CVE-2021-20321 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-20321 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2021-20321 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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