Out-of-bounds write in kernel
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
An out-of-bounds (OOB) memory write flaw was found in list_devices in drivers/md/dm-ioctl.c in the Multi-device driver module in the Linux kernel before 5.12. A bound check failure allows an attacker with special user (CAP_SYS_ADMIN) privilege to gain access to out-of-bounds memory leading to a system crash or a leak of internal kernel information. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | kernel | Kernel 5.12 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- kernel Vendor— Affected Kernel 5.12 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.12 | 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:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.12 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
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 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| 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: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-31916
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2x6w-89x6-c628
References
Patch 2
Sources
- CVE-2021-31916 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-31916 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2x6w-89x6-c628 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-31916 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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