watchdog: Fix possible use-after-free by calling del_timer_sync()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: watchdog: Fix possible use-after-free by calling del_timer_sync() This driver's remove path calls del_timer(). However, that function does not wait until the timer handler finishes. This means that the timer handler may still be running after the driver's remove function has finished, which would result in a use-after-free. Fix by calling del_timer_sync(), which makes sure the timer handler has finished, and unable to re-schedule itself.
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 | 4.3 and later | 4.4.276, 4.9.276, 4.14.240, 4.19.198, 5.4.134, 5.10.52, 5.12.19, 5.13.4, 5.14 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.3 and later Fixed in 4.4.276, 4.9.276, 4.14.240, 4.19.198, 5.4.134, 5.10.52, 5.12.19, 5.13.4, 5.14 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 4.4.276; 4.5 to before 4.9.276; 4.10 to before 4.14.240; 4.15 to before 4.19.198; 4.20 to before 5.4.134; 5.5 to before 5.10.52; 5.11 to before 5.12.9; 5.13 to before 5.13.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.4.276; 4.5 to before 4.9.276; 4.10 to before 4.14.240; 4.15 to before 4.19.198; 4.20 to before 5.4.134; 5.5 to before 5.10.52; 5.11 to before 5.12.9; 5.13 to before 5.13.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.4.276, 4.9.276, 4.14.240, 4.19.198, 5.4.134, 5.10.52, 5.12.19, 5.13.4, 5.14
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2024:8107 Released 2024-10-15 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-477.75.1.el8_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.75.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.75.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.75.1.el8_8 +19
- RHSA-2024:7000 Released 2024-09-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2024:7001 Released 2024-09-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10 +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 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| RHOAI-2.13-RHEL-8 | Fixed | — |
| RHOAI-2.14-RHEL-8 | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8107 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7000 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8107 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7000 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7001 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7001 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-47321
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fhjr-hghh-2jv9
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHOAI-2.13-RHEL-8, RHOAI-2.14-RHEL-8 · Red Hat
References
Patch 9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58606882ad8ec6c39e0f40344b922921ef94ab4d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca96b8ea5e74956071154bdb456778cc3027e79f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8bec568d7518b1504a602ed5376bb322e4dbb270
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ecd620e0fb1ff7f78fdb593379b2e6938c99707a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db222f1477ad5692cd454709b714949807e5d111
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/66ba9cf929b1c4fabf545bd4c18f6f64e23e46e4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c05dac488a660fe2925c047ecb119e7afaaeb1e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a053c4d716898a53c2e31c574a70ea0c37044a3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0212f095ab56672f6f36aabc605bda205e1e0bf
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Sources
- CVE-2021-47321 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-47321 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fhjr-hghh-2jv9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-47321 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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