CVE-2021-47426·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, s390: Fix potential memory leak about jit_data Make sure to free jit_data through kfree() in the error path.
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.14.12
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at <0.1% — higher than 8% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Affected versions
From: 5.11
Until: 5.14.12
Fixed in: 5.14.12
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.14.12 or later to fix a memory leak in the eBPF subsystem on s390 architecture. The vulnerability occurs when the BPF JIT compiler fails to properly deallocate internal data structures during error conditions, potentially leading to kernel memory exhaustion. Ensure all s390-based systems running kernels 5.11 through 5.14.11 are patched immediately.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check your kernel version: uname -r | awk -F. '{print $1"."$2"."$3}'
- Verify if running on s390 architecture: uname -m (look for 's390x' output)
- Check if BPF is enabled in kernel: cat /boot/config-$(uname -r) | grep CONFIG_BPF
- Monitor kernel memory pressure: cat /proc/sysinfo | grep MemFree and track changes over time after BPF program loading
- Verify patch applied: grep -i 'jit_data' /boot/System.map-$(uname -r) to confirm the fix is present
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-47426?
This vulnerability is a memory leak in the Linux kernel's eBPF JIT compiler specifically affecting s390 systems. When the BPF compiler encounters an error during the code generation process, it fails to properly free internal jit_data structures, which can be triggered repeatedly to exhaust kernel memory.
Is CVE-2021-47426 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are available. However, any privileged user with BPF_LOAD_PROG capability could potentially trigger the memory leak.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-47426?
Linux kernel versions 5.11 through 5.14.11 are vulnerable on s390 architecture. The fix is included in kernel version 5.14.12 and later releases.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-47426?
Run 'uname -r' to get your kernel version and 'uname -m' to confirm s390x architecture. If both conditions match the vulnerable range (5.11-5.14.11) on s390, your system is affected.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-47426?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored s390 server, CVE-2021-47426 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/29fdb11ca88d3c490a3d56f0dc77eb9444d086be
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/686cb8b9f6b46787f035afe8fbd132a74e6b1bdd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a326f9c01cfbee4450ae49ce618ae6cbc0f76842
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d590a410e472417a22336c7c37685bfb38e801f2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/29fdb11ca88d3c490a3d56f0dc77eb9444d086be
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