CVE-2021-47044

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched/fair: Fix shift-out-of-bounds in load_balance() Syzbot reported a handful of occurrences where an sd->nr_balance_failed can grow to much higher values than one would expect. A successful load_balance() resets it to 0; a failed one increments it. Once it gets to sd->cache_nice_tries + 3, this *should* trigger an active balance, which will either set it to sd->cache_nice_tries+1 or reset it to 0. However, in case the to-be-active-balanced task is not allowed to run on env->dst_cpu, then the increment is done without any further modification. This could then be repeated ad nauseam, and would explain the absurdly high values reported by syzbot (86, 149). VincentG noted there is value in letting sd->cache_nice_tries grow, so the shift itself should be fixed. That means preventing: """ If the value of the right operand is negative or is greater than or equal to the width of the promoted left operand, the behavior is undefined. """ Thus we need to cap the shift exponent to BITS_PER_TYPE(typeof(lefthand)) - 1. I had a look around for other similar cases via coccinelle: @expr@ position pos; expression E1; expression E2; @@ ( E1 >> E2@pos | E1 >> E2@pos ) @cst depends on expr@ position pos; expression expr.E1; constant cst; @@ ( E1 >> cst@pos | E1 << cst@pos ) @script:python depends on !cst@ pos << expr.pos; exp << expr.E2; @@ # Dirty hack to ignore constexpr if exp.upper() != exp: coccilib.report.print_report(pos[0], "Possible UB shift here") The only other match in kernel/sched is rq_clock_thermal() which employs sched_thermal_decay_shift, and that exponent is already capped to 10, so that one is fine.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2024-02-28
Last modified 2025-03-19
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

7.7

out of 10
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-125

CVE-2021-47044 is a Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability

What is Out-of-bounds Read?

The product reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2021-47044 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2021-47044?

    CVE-2021-47044 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.7 out of 10 , classified as an Out-of-bounds Read flaw (CWE-125) . CVE-2021-47044 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2021-47044?

    CVE-2021-47044 has a CVSS score of 7.7 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2021-47044?

    No patch is currently available for CVE-2021-47044. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

  • Is CVE-2021-47044 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2021-47044 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125)?

    The product reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. View CWE-125 on MITRE CWE →