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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2021-47438: net/mlx5e: Fix memory leak in mlx5_core_destroy_cq() error path

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 4f7bddf8c5c01cac74373443b13a68e1c6723a94, 94b960b9deffc02fc0747afc01f72cc62ab099e3, ed8aafea4fec9c654e63445236e0b505e27ed3a7.
  • Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 4f7bddf8c5c01cac74373443b13a68e1c6723a94, 94b960b9deffc02fc0747afc01f72cc62ab099e3, ed8aafea4fec9c654e63445236e0b505e27ed3a7 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: net/mlx5e: Fix memory leak in mlx5_core_destroy_cq() error path Prior to this patch in case mlx5_core_destroy_cq() failed it returns without completing all destroy operations and that leads to memory leak. Instead, complete the destroy flow before return error. Also move mlx5_debug_cq_remove() to the beginning of mlx5_core_destroy_cq() to be symmetrical with mlx5_core_create_cq(). kmemleak complains on: unreferenced object 0xc000000038625100 (size 64): comm "ethtool", pid 28301, jiffies 4298062946 (age 785.380s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 60 01 48 94 00 00 00 c0 b8 05 34 c3 00 00 00 c0 `.H.......4..... 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 db 7d c1 00 00 00 c0 ..........}..... backtrace: [<000000009e8643cb>] add_res_tree+0xd0/0x270 [mlx5_core] [<00000000e7cb8e6c>] mlx5_debug_cq_add+0x5c/0xc0 [mlx5_core] [<000000002a12918f>] mlx5_core_create_cq+0x1d0/0x2d0 [mlx5_core] [<00000000cef0a696>] mlx5e_create_cq+0x210/0x3f0 [mlx5_core] [<000000009c642c26>] mlx5e_open_cq+0xb4/0x130 [mlx5_core] [<0000000058dfa578>] mlx5e_ptp_open+0x7f4/0xe10 [mlx5_core] [<0000000081839561>] mlx5e_open_channels+0x9cc/0x13e0 [mlx5_core] [<0000000009cf05d4>] mlx5e_switch_priv_channels+0xa4/0x230 [mlx5_core] [<0000000042bbedd8>] mlx5e_safe_switch_params+0x14c/0x300 [mlx5_core] [<0000000004bc9db8>] set_pflag_tx_port_ts+0x9c/0x160 [mlx5_core] [<00000000a0553443>] mlx5e_set_priv_flags+0xd0/0x1b0 [mlx5_core] [<00000000a8f3d84b>] ethnl_set_privflags+0x234/0x2d0 [<00000000fd27f27c>] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0x108/0x1d0 [<00000000f495e2bb>] genl_family_rcv_msg+0xe4/0x1f0 [<00000000646c5c2c>] genl_rcv_msg+0x78/0x120 [<00000000d53e384e>] netlink_rcv_skb+0x74/0x1a0

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
May 22, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 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.

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
5.5
CNA · Linux
7.1
1.6 point gap

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

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

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

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

Follow CVE-2021-47438

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

Affected versions

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

  • linux linux kernel3.11 and later · before 5.10.75
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.14.14
  • linux linux kernel5.15

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

    • 3.11affected
    • e126ba97dba9edeb6fafa3665b5f8497fc9cdf8c and later · before 4f7bddf8c5c01cac74373443b13a68e1c6723a94affected · git
    • e126ba97dba9edeb6fafa3665b5f8497fc9cdf8c and later · before ed8aafea4fec9c654e63445236e0b505e27ed3a7affected · git
    • e126ba97dba9edeb6fafa3665b5f8497fc9cdf8c and later · before 94b960b9deffc02fc0747afc01f72cc62ab099e3affected · git
    • before 3.11not affected · semver
    • 5.10.75 and later · up to and including 5.10.*not affected · semver
    • 5.14.14 and later · up to and including 5.14.*not affected · semver
    • 5.15 and laternot affected · original_commit_for_fix

Package-level exposure

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

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 5.14.16-15.14.16-1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP5kernel-defaultbefore 4.12.14-122.225.14.12.14-122.225.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_59before 1-8.3.11-8.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5kernel-rtbefore 4.12.14-10.194.14.12.14-10.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5kernel-rt_debugbefore 4.12.14-10.194.14.12.14-10.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5kernel-source-rtbefore 4.12.14-10.194.14.12.14-10.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5kernel-syms-rtbefore 4.12.14-10.194.14.12.14-10.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5kernel-azurebefore 4.12.14-16.194.14.12.14-16.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5kernel-sourcebefore 4.12.14-122.225.14.12.14-122.225.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5kernel-source-azurebefore 4.12.14-16.194.14.12.14-16.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5kernel-symsbefore 4.12.14-122.225.14.12.14-122.225.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5kernel-syms-azurebefore 4.12.14-16.194.14.12.14-16.194.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5kernel-docsbefore 4.12.14-122.225.24.12.14-122.225.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5kernel-obs-buildbefore 4.12.14-122.225.14.12.14-122.225.1

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-2021-47436May 22, 2024 · usb: musb: dsps: Fix the probe error path
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-47437May 22, 2024 · iio: adis16475: fix deadlock on frequency set
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2021-47439May 22, 2024 · net: dsa: microchip: Added the condition for scheduling ksz_mib_read_work
    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 Linux4f7bddf8c5c01cac74373443b13a68e1c6723a94Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux94b960b9deffc02fc0747afc01f72cc62ab099e3Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxed8aafea4fec9c654e63445236e0b505e27ed3a7Vendor (CNA)
debian:linux5.14.16-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure4.12.14-16.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default4.12.14-122.225.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-docs4.12.14-122.225.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-obs-build4.12.14-122.225.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt4.12.14-10.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt_debug4.12.14-10.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source4.12.14-122.225.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-azure4.12.14-16.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-rt4.12.14-10.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms-azure4.12.14-16.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms-rt4.12.14-10.194.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_591-8.3.1 · 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.

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.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

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
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.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

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

References

Show all references (2 more)

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

All records