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NVD / CVE Program· CNA mitre

CVE-2021-33909: fs/seq_file.c in the Linux kernel 3.16 through 5.13.x before 5.13.4 does not properly restrict seq buffer allocations, leading to an integer

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 34/100)

  • Public proof-of-concept code exists (GitHub); there is no record of exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 9.7% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 95.4% of all records.
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: kernel-tools-libs-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4; linux (Debian:10) 4.19.194-3; linux (Debian:12) 5.10.46-2.
  • Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Low priority for now. Upgrade to kernel-tools-libs-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4; linux (Debian:10) 4.19.194-3; linux (Debian:12) 5.10.46-2 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

fs/seq_file.c in the Linux kernel 3.16 through 5.13.x before 5.13.4 does not properly restrict seq buffer allocations, leading to an integer overflow, an Out-of-bounds Write, and escalation to root by an unprivileged user, aka CID-8cae8cd89f05.

HighCVSS 7.8 · v3.1—Proof of concept Fix available
Published
Jul 20, 2021
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
9.7% · 95th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

34

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
3 / 30 · 9.7%

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • Proof of concept exists, no weaponized module
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

Follow CVE-2021-33909

When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel
sonicwallsma1000
fedoraprojectfedora
debiandebian linux
netapphci management node
netappsolidfire
oraclecommunications session border controller
sonicwallsma1000 firmware

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • sonicwall sma1000 firmwareup to 12.4.2-02044 inclusive

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
AlmaLinux:8kernel-tools-libs-develbefore 4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_44.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4
Debian:10linuxbefore 4.19.194-34.19.194-3
Debian:12linuxbefore 5.10.46-25.10.46-2
Debian:9linuxbefore 4.9.272-24.9.272-2
Debian:9linux-4.19before 4.19.194-3~deb9u14.19.194-3~deb9u1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-debugbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-defaultbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-default-basebefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.1.lp152.8.38.15.3.18-lp152.84.1.lp152.8.38.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-docsbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-kvmsmallbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-obs-buildbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-obs-qabefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-preemptbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-sourcebefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2kernel-symsbefore 5.3.18-lp152.84.15.3.18-lp152.84.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-64kbbefore 5.3.18-59.16.15.3.18-59.16.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-azurebefore 5.3.18-38.14.15.3.18-38.14.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-debugbefore 4.12.14-197.102.24.12.14-197.102.2
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-debugbefore 4.12.14-197.99.14.12.14-197.99.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-debugbefore 5.3.18-59.16.15.3.18-59.16.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-defaultbefore 4.12.14-197.102.24.12.14-197.102.2
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-defaultbefore 5.3.18-59.16.15.3.18-59.16.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-defaultbefore 4.12.14-197.99.14.12.14-197.99.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3kernel-default-basebefore 5.3.18-59.16.1.18.8.15.3.18-59.16.1.18.8.1

+96

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV
    89Now
  • CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV
    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-35039Jul 6, 2021 · kernel/module.c in the Linux kernel before 5.12.14 mishandles Signature Verification, aka CID-0c18f29aae7c.
    31Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-3612Jul 9, 2021 · An out-of-bounds memory write flaw was found in the Linux kernel's joystick devices subsystem in versions before 5.9-rc1, in the way the use
    31Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2021-37159Jul 21, 2021 · hso_free_net_device in drivers/net/usb/hso.c in the Linux kernel through 5.13.4 calls unregister_netdev without checking for the NETREG_REGI
    25Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
almalinux:kernel-tools-libs-devel4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
debian:linux5.10.46-2 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
debian:linux-4.194.19.194-3~deb9u1 · Debian:9Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-azure5.3.18-38.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-debug5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default-base5.3.18-lp152.84.1.lp152.8.38.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-docs5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-kvmsmall5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-build5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-qa5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-preempt5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source-azure5.3.18-38.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
red hat:bpftool0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bpftool-debuginfo0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-abi-stablelists0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-core0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-core0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-debuginfo0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-devel0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-modules0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-modules-extra0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseosPackage registry (OSV)
rocky linux:kernel0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-64kb5.3.18-59.16.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure4.12.14-16.65.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)

+10

Exploit status

Proof of concept available

A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.

Evidence

  • Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×4

Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.

Public exploit evidence
SourceKindDate
Proof-of-concept repository on GitHubstars:772021-07-21
Proof-of-concept repository on GitHubstars:62021-07-21
Proof-of-concept repository on GitHubstars:52021-07-26
Proof-of-concept repository on GitHubstars:432021-09-02

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

  1. Published
  2. First PoCsame day
  3. TodayOct 27, 2026+1925 d
EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)

Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.

All national notices →

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
High

CVSS vector

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

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

ATT&CK techniques

—

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

All records