CVE-2021-47403·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipack: ipoctal: fix module reference leak A reference to the carrier module was taken on every open but was only released once when the final reference to the tty struct was dropped. Fix this by taking the module reference and initialising the tty driver data when installing the tty.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.14.10
- Published
- 2024-05-21
Affected versions
From: 5.11
Until: 5.14.10
Fixed in: 5.14.10
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.14.10 or later to address a module reference leak in the ipack ipoctal driver that could lead to memory exhaustion and system instability. The vulnerability allows unauthorized local users to trigger denial-of-service conditions by repeatedly opening and closing tty devices without proper reference counting. Apply the patch immediately if you are running kernel versions 5.11 through 5.14.9, particularly on systems using IndustryPack carrier hardware.
sudo dnf upgrade kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check installed kernel version by running: uname -r | awk -F. '{print $1"."$2"."$3}'
- Step 2: Verify if ipoctal module is loaded by running: lsmod | grep ipoctal
- Step 3: Monitor for device open/close patterns on ipack devices with: journalctl -u kernel | grep -i ipoctal
- Step 4: After updating, confirm the new kernel is active by rebooting and running: uname -r to verify version is 5.14.10 or later
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-47403?
CVE-2021-47403 is a module reference counting vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ipack ipoctal driver where each device open increments a carrier module reference counter, but the counter is only decremented once when the tty device is fully released, creating a leak that can exhaust memory.
Is CVE-2021-47403 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2021-47403 is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are available, though local attackers with user privileges can trigger the vulnerability.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-47403?
Kernel versions 5.11 through 5.14.9 are vulnerable; version 5.14.10 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-47403?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version; if it reports 5.11.x through 5.14.9, and 'lsmod | grep ipoctal' shows the module is loaded, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-47403?
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-2021-47403 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31398849b84ebae0d43a1cf379cb9895597f221a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3253c87e1e5bc0107aab773af2f135ebccf38666
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cea848678470daadbfdaa6a112b823c290f900c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/811178f296b16af30264def74c8d2179a72d5562
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c5b77a7ffc983b2429ce158b50497c5d3c86a69
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