dm: fix mempool NULL pointer race when completing IO
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · 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-476.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dm: fix mempool NULL pointer race when completing IO dm_io_dec_pending() calls end_io_acct() first and will then dec md in-flight pending count. But if a task is swapping DM table at same time this can result in a crash due to mempool->elements being NULL: task1 task2 do_resume ->do_suspend ->dm_wait_for_completion bio_endio ->clone_endio ->dm_io_dec_pending ->end_io_acct ->wakeup task1 ->dm_swap_table ->__bind ->__bind_mempools ->bioset_exit ->mempool_exit ->free_io [ 67.330330] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 ...... [ 67.330494] pstate: 80400085 (Nzcv daIf +PAN -UAO) [ 67.330510] pc : mempool_free+0x70/0xa0 [ 67.330515] lr : mempool_free+0x4c/0xa0 [ 67.330520] sp : ffffff8008013b20 [ 67.330524] x29: ffffff8008013b20 x28: 0000000000000004 [ 67.330530] x27: ffffffa8c2ff40a0 x26: 00000000ffff1cc8 [ 67.330535] x25: 0000000000000000 x24: ffffffdada34c800 [ 67.330541] x23: 0000000000000000 x22: ffffffdada34c800 [ 67.330547] x21: 00000000ffff1cc8 x20: ffffffd9a1304d80 [ 67.330552] x19: ffffffdada34c970 x18: 000000b312625d9c [ 67.330558] x17: 00000000002dcfbf x16: 00000000000006dd [ 67.330563] x15: 000000000093b41e x14: 0000000000000010 [ 67.330569] x13: 0000000000007f7a x12: 0000000034155555 [ 67.330574] x11: 0000000000000001 x10: 0000000000000001 [ 67.330579] x9 : 0000000000000000 x8 : 0000000000000000 [ 67.330585] x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : ffffff80148b5c1a [ 67.330590] x5 : ffffff8008013ae0 x4 : 0000000000000001 [ 67.330596] x3 : ffffff80080139c8 x2 : ffffff801083bab8 [ 67.330601] x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : ffffffdada34c970 [ 67.330609] Call trace: [ 67.330616] mempool_free+0x70/0xa0 [ 67.330627] bio_put+0xf8/0x110 [ 67.330638] dec_pending+0x13c/0x230 [ 67.330644] clone_endio+0x90/0x180 [ 67.330649] bio_endio+0x198/0x1b8 [ 67.330655] dec_pending+0x190/0x230 [ 67.330660] clone_endio+0x90/0x180 [ 67.330665] bio_endio+0x198/0x1b8 [ 67.330673] blk_update_request+0x214/0x428 [ 67.330683] scsi_end_request+0x2c/0x300 [ 67.330688] scsi_io_completion+0xa0/0x710 [ 67.330695] scsi_finish_command+0xd8/0x110 [ 67.330700] scsi_softirq_done+0x114/0x148 [ 67.330708] blk_done_softirq+0x74/0xd0 [ 67.330716] __do_softirq+0x18c/0x374 [ 67.330724] irq_exit+0xb4/0xb8 [ 67.330732] __handle_domain_irq+0x84/0xc0 [ 67.330737] gic_handle_irq+0x148/0x1b0 [ 67.330744] el1_irq+0xe8/0x190 [ 67.330753] lpm_cpuidle_enter+0x4f8/0x538 [ 67.330759] cpuidle_enter_state+0x1fc/0x398 [ 67.330764] cpuidle_enter+0x18/0x20 [ 67.330772] do_idle+0x1b4/0x290 [ 67.330778] cpu_startup_entry+0x20/0x28 [ 67.330786] secondary_start_kernel+0x160/0x170 Fix this by: 1) Establishing pointers to 'struct dm_io' members in dm_io_dec_pending() so that they may be passed into end_io_acct() _after_ free_io() is called. 2) Moving end_io_acct() after free_io().
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 | 2.6.37 and later | 4.9.313, 4.14.278, 4.19.242, 5.4.193, 5.10.113, 5.14.14, 5.15 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.37 and later Fixed in 4.9.313, 4.14.278, 4.19.242, 5.4.193, 5.10.113, 5.14.14, 5.15 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 4.9.313; 4.10 to before 4.14.278; 4.15 to before 4.19.242; 4.20 to before 5.4.193; 5.5 to before 5.10.113; 5.11 to before 5.14.14 | 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:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.9.313; 4.10 to before 4.14.278; 4.15 to before 4.19.242; 4.20 to before 5.4.193; 5.5 to before 5.10.113; 5.11 to before 5.14.14 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:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.9.313, 4.14.278, 4.19.242, 5.4.193, 5.10.113, 5.14.14, 5.15
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2022:5626 Released 2022-07-19 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.57.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.57.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.57.1.el8_4 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB EUS (v.8.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-305.57.1.el8_4
- RHSA-2022:5220 Released 2022-06-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.2) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-193.87.1.el8_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2) bpftool-4.18.0-193.87.1.el8_2, kernel-4.18.0-193.87.1.el8_2, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-193.87.1.el8_2 +19
- RHSA-2022:1988 Released 2022-05-10 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8, kernel-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2022:1975 Released 2022-05-10 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8 +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 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5220 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1988 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5220 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5626 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1988 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB EUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5626 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1975 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1975 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-47435
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-3c5v-hp3x-r94q
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9fb7cd5c7fef0f1c982e3cd27745a0dec260eaed
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d35aef9c60d310eff3eaddacce301efe877e2b7c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e07272cca2ed76f7f6073f4444b1143828c8d87
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad1393b92e5059218d055bfec8f4946d85ad04c4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d29c78d3f9c5d2604548c1065bf1ec212728ea61
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e506f07c5b561d673dd0b0d8f7f420cc48024fb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d208b89401e073de986dc891037c5a668f5d5d95
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Sources
- CVE-2021-47435 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-47435 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3c5v-hp3x-r94q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-47435 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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