CVE-2021-47083·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pinctrl: mediatek: fix global-out-of-bounds issue When eint virtual eint number is greater than gpio number, it maybe produce 'desc[eint_n]' size globle-out-of-bounds issue.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.15.12
- Published
- 2024-03-04
Affected versions
From: 5.11
Until: 5.15.12
Fixed in: 5.15.12
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.15.12 or later to resolve a memory boundary violation in the Mediatek pinctrl driver that could allow local privilege escalation. This patch fixes an out-of-bounds array access when virtual EINT numbers exceed GPIO counts, preventing potential kernel memory corruption and system instability. Affected systems running kernel versions 5.11 through 5.15.11 should prioritize this update immediately.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r — confirm it is 5.15.12 or later, or below 5.11
- Verify Mediatek pinctrl driver presence: grep -r 'CONFIG_PINCTRL_MEDIATEK' /boot/config-$(uname -r) — if output shows 'y', the vulnerable component is loaded
- Search kernel logs for memory access violations: sudo dmesg | grep -i 'out of bounds\|sanitizer\|global-out-of-bounds' — look for errors related to pinctrl or eint handlers
- Confirm patch applied: sudo cat /proc/version — verify kernel version string matches patched release (5.15.12+)
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-47083?
This vulnerability is a global buffer out-of-bounds read in the Mediatek pinctrl driver where incorrectly sized descriptor arrays can be accessed beyond their allocated memory when virtual EINT numbers exceed the actual GPIO count, leading to kernel memory exposure and potential privilege escalation.
Is CVE-2021-47083 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits have been released, though it requires local system access to trigger.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-47083?
Linux kernel versions 5.11 through 5.15.11 are vulnerable. Version 5.15.12 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-47083?
Run 'uname -r' and verify the kernel version is between 5.11 and 5.15.11; additionally check if Mediatek pinctrl is enabled with 'grep CONFIG_PINCTRL_MEDIATEK /boot/config-$(uname -r)'.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-47083?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2021-47083 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d5446da5acecf9c67db1c9d55ae2c3e5de01f8d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/441d3873664d170982922c5d2fc01fa89d9439ed
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f373298e1bf0c6ea097c0bcc558dc43ad53e421f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb563baa3eb8e7a15f2cff3c2695e2cca0493e69
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d5446da5acecf9c67db1c9d55ae2c3e5de01f8d
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