CVE-2021-47525·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: liteuart: fix use-after-free and memleak on unbind Deregister the port when unbinding the driver to prevent it from being used after releasing the driver data and leaking memory allocated by serial core.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.15.7
- Published
- 2024-05-24
Affected versions
From: 5.11
Until: 5.15.7
Fixed in: 5.15.7
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.15.7 or later to resolve a use-after-free and memory leak vulnerability in the LiteUART serial driver. This flaw occurs when the driver is unbound without properly deregistering the serial port, leaving dangling references and leaked kernel memory. Patch your system immediately if you are running kernel versions 5.11 through 5.15.6.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your current kernel version with `uname -r` and compare against the affected range (5.11 to 5.15.6)
- Step 2: Verify if LiteUART serial driver is loaded by running `lsmod | grep liteuart` or checking `grep -i liteuart /proc/modules`
- Step 3: Monitor kernel logs for memory corruption warnings or use-after-free messages with `journalctl -k | grep -i 'use.after.free\|liteuart'`
- Step 4: After patching to 5.15.7+, reboot and confirm the new version with `uname -r`, then verify driver functionality with `dmesg | grep -i liteuart`
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-47525?
CVE-2021-47525 is a use-after-free and memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's LiteUART serial driver that occurs when the driver is unbound without properly deregistering the serial port from the kernel's serial core subsystem.
Is CVE-2021-47525 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are currently available. However, the high CVSS score (7.8) warrants prompt patching.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-47525?
Linux kernel versions from 5.11 through 5.15.6 are vulnerable. Version 5.15.7 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-47525?
Run `uname -r` to get your kernel version. If it falls within 5.11.x to 5.15.6, and the LiteUART driver is in use (check with `lsmod | grep liteuart`), your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-47525?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2021-47525 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
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