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
Yes

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

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.10 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.37, 5.11.21, 5.12.4, 5.13 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.10
Fixed in
✓ 5.10.37 5.10.x ✓ 5.11.21 5.11.x ✓ 5.12.4 5.12.x ✓ 5.13

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) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.10 onward and has been patched in 5.10.37, 5.11.21, 5.12.4 and others. 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?

    Yes. CVE-2021-47044 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.37, 5.11.21, 5.12.4 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.10 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • 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.