CVE-2021-3491
HighThe io_uring subsystem in the Linux kernel allowed the MAX_RW_COUNT limit to be bypassed in the PROVIDE_BUFFERS operation, which led to negative values being usedin mem_rw when reading /proc/<PID>/mem. This could be used to create a heap overflow leading to arbitrary code execution in the kernel. It was addressed via commit d1f82808877b ("io_uring: truncate lengths larger than MAX_RW_COUNT on provide buffers") (v5.13-rc1) and backported to the stable kernels in v5.12.4, v5.11.21, and v5.10.37. It was introduced in ddf0322db79c ("io_uring: add IORING_OP_PROVIDE_BUFFERS") (v5.7-rc1).
CVSS 3.1 score
8.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness type
CWE-131CVE-2021-3491 is classified as CWE-131
See CWE-131 on MITRE CWE for full details on this weakness type.
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2021-3491 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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Third Party Advisory
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Ubuntu Securityhttps://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4949-1Third Party Advisory
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Ubuntu Securityhttps://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4950-1Third Party Advisory
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Zerodayinitiativehttps://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-589/Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=d1f82808877bb10d3deee7cf3374a4eb3fb582db
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/11/13
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2021-3491?
CVE-2021-3491 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10 . CVE-2021-3491 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2021-3491?
CVE-2021-3491 has a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. -
Is there a patch available for CVE-2021-3491?
No patch is currently available for CVE-2021-3491. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
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Is CVE-2021-3491 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2021-3491 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.