CVE-2021-47444·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/edid: In connector_bad_edid() cap num_of_ext by num_blocks read In commit e11f5bd8228f ("drm: Add support for DP 1.4 Compliance edid corruption test") the function connector_bad_edid() started assuming that the memory for the EDID passed to it was big enough to hold `edid[0x7e] + 1` blocks of data (1 extra for the base block). It completely ignored the fact that the function was passed `num_blocks` which indicated how much memory had been allocated for the EDID. Let's fix this by adding a bounds check. This is important for handling the case where there's an error in the first block of the EDID. In that case we will call connector_bad_edid() without having re-allocated memory based on `edid[0x7e]`.
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.14.14
- 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 3% 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: 5.14.14
Fixed in: 5.14.14
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.14.14 or later to resolve a memory bounds checking vulnerability in the EDID validation function. This vulnerability could allow local attackers to trigger a denial of service by exploiting improper handling of Extended Display Identification Data blocks. Ensure your system is running a patched kernel version and reboot to apply changes.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to check your currently running kernel version; vulnerable versions are 5.11.x through 5.14.13
- Verify if the DRM subsystem is active on your system by checking 'lsmod | grep drm' to confirm the graphics driver stack is loaded
- Search kernel logs for EDID parsing errors with 'dmesg | grep -i edid' to identify if bad EDID data triggered the vulnerable code path
- After patching, reboot the system and confirm the new kernel version with 'uname -r' to ensure the fix is active
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-47444?
This vulnerability occurs in the Linux kernel's DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) EDID validation routine, where a bounds check was missing when processing Extended Display Identification Data. An attacker could provide malformed EDID to trigger memory access beyond allocated buffer boundaries, causing a denial of service.
Is CVE-2021-47444 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are currently available, though it remains a local privilege escalation risk requiring authentication.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-47444?
Linux kernel versions 5.11 through 5.14.13 are vulnerable; the fix is included in kernel 5.14.14 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-47444?
Run 'uname -r' and compare your kernel version against the vulnerable range 5.11-5.14.13; if your version falls in this range, your system requires patching.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-47444?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2021-47444 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09f3946bb452918dbfb1982add56f9ffaae393dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/97794170b696856483f74b47bfb6049780d2d3a0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7b45024f66f9ec769e8dbb1a51ae83cd05929c7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09f3946bb452918dbfb1982add56f9ffaae393dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/97794170b696856483f74b47bfb6049780d2d3a0
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