CVE-2021-47552

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Last Modified: UTC

Description

A vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel's block blk-mq when dispatch work was handled during queue cleanup. This issue occurs when dispatch work is not properly canceled in both the blk_cleanup_queue() and disk_release() functions, which can lead to a NULL pointer dereference if the associated SCSI device is freed before dispatch work is completed, resulting in kernel crashes and disruption in block device operations.

A vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel's block blk-mq when dispatch work was handled during queue cleanup. This issue occurs when dispatch work is not properly canceled in both the blk_cleanup_queue() and disk_release() functions, which can lead to a NULL pointer dereference if the associated SCSI device is freed before dispatch work is completed, resulting in kernel crashes and disruption in block device operations.

Mitigation

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

Additional information

  • Bugzilla 2283397: kernel: blk-mq: cancel blk-mq dispatch work in both blk_cleanup_queue and disk_release()
  • CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference
  • FAQ: Frequently asked questions about CVE-2021-47552

Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details

Important note

CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).

The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.

CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
Red HatNVD

CVSS v3 Base Score

4.4

5.5

Attack Vector

Local

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Low

Privileges Required

High

Low

User Interaction

None

None

Scope

Unchanged

Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact

None

None

Integrity Impact

None

None

Availability Impact

High

High

CVSS v3 Vector

Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

CWE-476

Availability

Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

NULL pointer dereferences usually result in the failure of the process unless exception handling (on some platforms) is available and implemented. Even when exception handling is being used, it can still be very difficult to return the software to a safe state of operation.

Integrity,Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory

In rare circumstances, when NULL is equivalent to the 0x0 memory address and privileged code can access it, then writing or reading memory is possible, which may lead to code execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Red Hat's CVSS v3 score or Impact different from other vendors?

My product is listed as "Under investigation" or "Affected", when will Red Hat release a fix for this vulnerability?

What can I do if my product is listed as "Will not fix"?

What can I do if my product is listed as "Fix deferred"?

What is a mitigation?

I have a Red Hat product but it is not in the above list, is it affected?

Why is my security scanner reporting my product as vulnerable to this vulnerability even though my product version is fixed or not affected?

My product is listed as "Out of Support Scope". What does this mean?

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