userfaultfd: fix a race between writeprotect and exit_mmap()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 9 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: userfaultfd: fix a race between writeprotect and exit_mmap() A race is possible when a process exits, its VMAs are removed by exit_mmap() and at the same time userfaultfd_writeprotect() is called. The race was detected by KASAN on a development kernel, but it appears to be possible on vanilla kernels as well. Use mmget_not_zero() to prevent the race as done in other userfaultfd operations.
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 | 5.7 and later | 5.10.76, 5.14.15, 5.15 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.7 and later Fixed in 5.10.76, 5.14.15, 5.15 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.7 to before 5.10.76; 5.11 to before 5.14.15 | 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:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.7 to before 5.10.76; 5.11 to before 5.14.15 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:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.15:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.76, 5.14.15, 5.15
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2024:10262 Released 2024-11-26 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-477.81.1.el8_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.81.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.81.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.81.1.el8_8 +19
- RHSA-2024:6297 Released 2024-09-04 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6 +13
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6 +18
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.121.1.el8_6 +13
- RHSA-2024:5101 Released 2024-08-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2024:5102 Released 2024-08-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.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 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:10262 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5101 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6297 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6297 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:10262 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6297 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5101 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5102 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5102 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-47461
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-q3gr-2743-cwm5
References
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2021-47461 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-47461 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-q3gr-2743-cwm5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-47461 · 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