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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2021-47416: phy: mdio: fix memory leak

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.23% (FIRST EPSS).
  • 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: Linux Linux 064c2616234a7394867c924b5c1303974f3a4f4d, 0d2dd40a7be61b89a7c99dae8ee96389d27b413a, 2250392d930bd0d989f24d355d6355b0150256e7.
  • Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 064c2616234a7394867c924b5c1303974f3a4f4d, 0d2dd40a7be61b89a7c99dae8ee96389d27b413a, 2250392d930bd0d989f24d355d6355b0150256e7 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

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: phy: mdio: fix memory leak Syzbot reported memory leak in MDIO bus interface, the problem was in wrong state logic. MDIOBUS_ALLOCATED indicates 2 states: 1. Bus is only allocated 2. Bus allocated and __mdiobus_register() fails, but device_register() was called In case of device_register() has been called we should call put_device() to correctly free the memory allocated for this device, but mdiobus_free() calls just kfree(dev) in case of MDIOBUS_ALLOCATED state To avoid this behaviour we need to set bus->state to MDIOBUS_UNREGISTERED _before_ calling device_register(), because put_device() should be called even in case of device_register() failure.

Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
0.2% · 14th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.2%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

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  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
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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

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Linux Linux

    • 2.6.28affected
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before 25e9f88c7e3cc35f5e3d3db199660d28a15df639affected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before 2250392d930bd0d989f24d355d6355b0150256e7affected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before f4f502a04ee1e543825af78f47eb7785015cd9f6affected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before 2397b9e118721292429fea8807a698e71b94795faffected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before 414bb4ead1362ef2c8592db723c017258f213988affected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before 0d2dd40a7be61b89a7c99dae8ee96389d27b413aaffected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before 064c2616234a7394867c924b5c1303974f3a4f4daffected · git
    • 46abc02175b3c246dd5141d878f565a8725060c9 and later · before ca6e11c337daf7925ff8a2aac8e84490a8691905affected · git
    • before 2.6.28not affected · semver
Affected versions · NVD (8)

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

  • linux linux kernel2.6.28 and later · before 4.4.289
  • linux linux kernel4.5 and later · before 4.9.287
  • linux linux kernel4.10 and later · before 4.14.251
  • linux linux kernel4.15 and later · before 4.19.211
  • linux linux kernel4.20 and later · before 5.4.153
  • linux linux kernel5.5 and later · before 5.10.73
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.14.12
  • linux linux kernel5.15

Package-level exposure

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

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 5.14.12-15.14.12-1
openSUSE:Leap 15.5kernel-azurebefore 5.14.21-150500.33.72.15.14.21-150500.33.72.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.5kernel-rt_debugbefore 5.14.21-150500.13.76.15.14.21-150500.13.76.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.5kernel-source-azurebefore 5.14.21-150500.33.72.15.14.21-150500.33.72.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.5kernel-source-rtbefore 5.14.21-150500.13.76.15.14.21-150500.13.76.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.5kernel-syms-azurebefore 5.14.21-150500.33.72.15.14.21-150500.33.72.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.5kernel-syms-rtbefore 5.14.21-150500.13.76.15.14.21-150500.13.76.1
openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.5kernel-rtbefore 5.14.21-150500.13.76.15.14.21-150500.13.76.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSkernel-default-basebefore 5.3.18-150200.24.209.1.150200.9.109.15.3.18-150200.24.209.1.150200.9.109.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSkernel-docsbefore 5.3.18-150200.24.209.25.3.18-150200.24.209.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSkernel-obs-buildbefore 5.3.18-150200.24.209.15.3.18-150200.24.209.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSkernel-preemptbefore 5.3.18-150200.24.209.15.3.18-150200.24.209.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSkernel-sourcebefore 5.3.18-150200.24.209.15.3.18-150200.24.209.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSkernel-symsbefore 5.3.18-150200.24.209.15.3.18-150200.24.209.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-64kbbefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.15.3.18-150300.59.182.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-default-basebefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.1.150300.18.107.15.3.18-150300.59.182.1.150300.18.107.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-docsbefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.25.3.18-150300.59.182.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-obs-buildbefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.15.3.18-150300.59.182.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-preemptbefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.15.3.18-150300.59.182.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-sourcebefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.15.3.18-150300.59.182.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSSkernel-symsbefore 5.3.18-150300.59.182.15.3.18-150300.59.182.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOSkernel-64kbbefore 5.14.21-150400.24.141.15.14.21-150400.24.141.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOSkernel-docsbefore 5.14.21-150400.24.141.15.14.21-150400.24.141.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOSkernel-obs-buildbefore 5.14.21-150400.24.141.15.14.21-150400.24.141.1

+36

Same product

linux: all records

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-2021-47414May 21, 2024 · riscv: Flush current cpu icache before other cpus
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-47415May 21, 2024 · iwlwifi: mvm: Fix possible NULL dereference
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2021-47417May 21, 2024 · libbpf: Fix memory leak in strset
    22Monitor

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
Linux Linux064c2616234a7394867c924b5c1303974f3a4f4dVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux0d2dd40a7be61b89a7c99dae8ee96389d27b413aVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux2250392d930bd0d989f24d355d6355b0150256e7Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux2397b9e118721292429fea8807a698e71b94795fVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux25e9f88c7e3cc35f5e3d3db199660d28a15df639Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux414bb4ead1362ef2c8592db723c017258f213988Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxca6e11c337daf7925ff8a2aac8e84490a8691905Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxf4f502a04ee1e543825af78f47eb7785015cd9f6Vendor (CNA)
debian:linux5.14.12-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-azure5.14.21-150500.33.72.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-rt5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.5Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-rt_debug5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source-azure5.14.21-150500.33.72.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source-rt5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms-azure5.14.21-150500.33.72.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms-rt5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure5.14.21-150500.33.72.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default4.12.14-122.234.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default-base5.3.18-150200.24.209.1.150200.9.109.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSSPackage registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP2_Update_541-150200.5.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP2Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5-RT_Update_221-150500.11.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt_debug5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-azure5.14.21-150500.33.72.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-rt5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms-azure5.14.21-150500.33.72.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms-rt5.14.21-150500.13.76.1 · SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_621-8.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

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.

No dated events beyond publication.

National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)

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

All national notices →

Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.

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

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-401 · Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

CVSS vector

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

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

References

Show all references (7 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records