CVE-2021-47221

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/slub: actually fix freelist pointer vs redzoning It turns out that SLUB redzoning ("slub_debug=Z") checks from s->object_size rather than from s->inuse (which is normally bumped to make room for the freelist pointer), so a cache created with an object size less than 24 would have the freelist pointer written beyond s->object_size, causing the redzone to be corrupted by the freelist pointer. This was very visible with "slub_debug=ZF": BUG test (Tainted: G B ): Right Redzone overwritten ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- INFO: 0xffff957ead1c05de-0xffff957ead1c05df @offset=1502. First byte 0x1a instead of 0xbb INFO: Slab 0xffffef3950b47000 objects=170 used=170 fp=0x0000000000000000 flags=0x8000000000000200 INFO: Object 0xffff957ead1c05d8 @offset=1496 fp=0xffff957ead1c0620 Redzone (____ptrval____): bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb ........ Object (____ptrval____): 00 00 00 00 00 f6 f4 a5 ........ Redzone (____ptrval____): 40 1d e8 1a aa @.... Padding (____ptrval____): 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........ Adjust the offset to stay within s->object_size. (Note that no caches of in this size range are known to exist in the kernel currently.)

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2024-05-21 15:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 04:16 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2024-05-21 15:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 04:16 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-763

Record status

Analyzed

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.10.46
• Linux Kernel < 5.12.13
• Linux Kernel 5.13

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

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