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.
- BDU:2021-03848
- ALSA-2021:2714
- DLA-2713-1
- DLA-2714-1
- DSA-4941-1
- openSUSE-SU-2021:1076-1
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2409-1
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2415-1
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2427-1
- openSUSE-SU-2021:3876-1
- RHSA-2021:2714
- RHSA-2021:2715
- RHSA-2021:2716
- RHSA-2021:2718
- RHSA-2021:2719
- RHSA-2021:2720
- RHSA-2021:2722
- RHSA-2021:2723
- RHSA-2021:2725
- RHSA-2021:2726
- Published
- Jul 20, 2021
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 9.7% · 95th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-190
Report tools
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.
Running WordPress? Scan your site free with WP Lens
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.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected 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.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux kernel | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel |
| sonicwall | sma1000 | cpe:2.3:h:sonicwall:sma1000 |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| netapp | hci management node | cpe:2.3:a:netapp:hci_management_node |
| netapp | solidfire | cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire |
| oracle | communications session border controller | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller |
| sonicwall | sma1000 firmware | cpe:2.3:o:sonicwall:sma1000_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.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-tools-libs-devel | before 4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 | 4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 |
| Debian:10 | linux | before 4.19.194-3 | 4.19.194-3 |
| Debian:12 | linux | before 5.10.46-2 | 5.10.46-2 |
| Debian:9 | linux | before 4.9.272-2 | 4.9.272-2 |
| Debian:9 | linux-4.19 | before 4.19.194-3~deb9u1 | 4.19.194-3~deb9u1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-debug | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-default | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-default-base | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1.lp152.8.38.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1.lp152.8.38.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-docs | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-kvmsmall | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-obs-build | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-obs-qa | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-preempt | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-source | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | kernel-syms | before 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-64kb | before 5.3.18-59.16.1 | 5.3.18-59.16.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-azure | before 5.3.18-38.14.1 | 5.3.18-38.14.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-debug | before 4.12.14-197.102.2 | 4.12.14-197.102.2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-debug | before 4.12.14-197.99.1 | 4.12.14-197.99.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-debug | before 5.3.18-59.16.1 | 5.3.18-59.16.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-default | before 4.12.14-197.102.2 | 4.12.14-197.102.2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-default | before 5.3.18-59.16.1 | 5.3.18-59.16.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-default | before 4.12.14-197.99.1 | 4.12.14-197.99.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | kernel-default-base | before 5.3.18-59.16.1.18.8.1 | 5.3.18-59.16.1.18.8.1 |
+96
Same product
linux: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV90Now
- 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 KEV89Now
- CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV85Now
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 use31Monitor
- 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_REGI25Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:kernel-tools-libs-devel | 4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:linux | 5.10.46-2 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:linux-4.19 | 4.19.194-3~deb9u1 · Debian:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-azure | 5.3.18-38.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-debug | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-default | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1.lp152.8.38.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-docs | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-kvmsmall | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-obs-build | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-obs-qa | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-preempt | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-source | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-source-azure | 5.3.18-38.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kernel-syms | 5.3.18-lp152.84.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:bpftool | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:bpftool-debuginfo | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-abi-stablelists | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-core | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-core | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-debuginfo | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-devel | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-modules | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-modules-extra | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debuginfo | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:kernel | 0:4.18.0-305.10.2.el8_4 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-64kb | 5.3.18-59.16.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-azure | 4.12.14-16.65.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Package 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.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:77 | 2021-07-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2021-07-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:5 | 2021-07-26 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:43 | 2021-09-02 |
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.
- Published
- First PoCsame day
- TodayOct 27, 2026+1925 d
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.
Credits
All researchersFinders, 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.
- TR-21-0989 · Dec 13, 2021(IBM Güvenlik Bildirimi)
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
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-190 · Integer Overflow or WraparoundCVSS 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.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (17 more)Show less
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/163671/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0079-1.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/164155/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0081-1.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165477/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0083-1.html
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/07/22/7
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/08/25/10
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/09/17/2
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/09/17/4
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/09/21/1
- cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.13.4
- github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8cae8cd89f05f6de223d63e6d15e31c8ba9cf53b
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/07/msg00014.html
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/07/msg00016.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z4UHHIGISO3FVRF4CQNJS4IKA25ATSFU/
- psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2022-0015
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210819-0004/
- www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4941
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.