CVE-2021-46965·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: physmap: physmap-bt1-rom: Fix unintentional stack access Cast &data to (char *) in order to avoid unintentionally accessing the stack. Notice that data is of type u32, so any increment to &data will be in the order of 4-byte chunks, and this piece of code is actually intended to be a byte offset. Addresses-Coverity-ID: 1497765 ("Out-of-bounds access")
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.12.3
- Published
- 2024-02-27
Affected versions
From: 5.12
Until: 5.12.3
Fixed in: 5.12.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.12.3 or later to fix a memory access vulnerability in the MTD physmap-bt1-rom driver that could cause unintended stack access. This vulnerability affects kernel versions 5.12 through 5.12.2 and has been patched by adding proper pointer casting to ensure byte-level memory operations instead of word-level chunks.
sudo dnf update kernelDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your kernel version with `uname -r` and verify if it falls between 5.12 and 5.12.2
- Step 2: Verify the MTD physmap-bt1-rom driver is loaded by running `lsmod | grep mtd_rom` or `grep physmap /proc/modules`
- Step 3: Search system logs for stack corruption or memory access errors using `grep -i 'stack\|out.of.bounds\|memory' /var/log/kern.log` (on systems with this driver active)
- Step 4: Confirm the fix by booting into kernel 5.12.3+ and running `uname -r` to verify the patched version is active
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-46965?
CVE-2021-46965 is a memory access vulnerability in the Linux kernel's MTD physmap-bt1-rom driver where pointer arithmetic was performed on u32 data types instead of char pointers, causing unintended stack memory access with 4-byte offsets instead of 1-byte offsets.
Is CVE-2021-46965 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2021-46965 is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has no public exploit available. However, it is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.1) that requires patching due to its potential for privilege escalation and information disclosure.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-46965?
Linux kernel versions 5.12 through 5.12.2 are vulnerable. Kernel 5.12.3 and later versions include the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-46965?
Run `uname -r` to check your kernel version; if it shows 5.12.0, 5.12.1, or 5.12.2, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, verify the physmap-bt1-rom driver is in use with `grep -i 'bt1.rom' /proc/modules` or check device tree configurations for Baikal-T1 systems.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-46965?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2021-46965 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps and the specific vulnerable version range.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/34ec706bf0b7c4ca249a729c1bcb91f706c7a7be
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d786870e3262ec098a3b4ed10b895176bc66ecb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4e4ebb827bf09311469ffd9d0c14ed40ed9747aa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/683313993dbe1651c7aa00bb42a041d70e914925
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/34ec706bf0b7c4ca249a729c1bcb91f706c7a7be
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