CVE-2021-47601·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tee: amdtee: fix an IS_ERR() vs NULL bug The __get_free_pages() function does not return error pointers it returns NULL so fix this condition to avoid a NULL dereference.
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.15.11
- Published
- 2024-06-19
Affected versions
From: 5.11
Until: 5.15.11
Fixed in: 5.15.11
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.15.11 or later to address a memory management flaw in the AMD TEE driver. This vulnerability stems from incorrect error handling in the __get_free_pages() function, which can lead to NULL pointer dereference and system crashes. Prioritize this update for systems running kernel versions 5.11 through 5.15.10.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-headers kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to check your current kernel version. Versions 5.11.x through 5.15.10 are vulnerable.
- Check if AMD TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) support is enabled: grep -i 'CONFIG_TEE_AMDTEE' /boot/config-$(uname -r) or cat /proc/cmdline to look for amdtee module references.
- Search kernel logs for NULL pointer dereference errors from the TEE subsystem: dmesg | grep -i 'tee\|amdtee\|null pointer' or journalctl -k | grep -i 'tee\|amdtee'.
- After updating, confirm the patched version is running: uname -r should show 5.15.11 or later, and verify with grep CONFIG_TEE_AMDTEE /boot/config-$(uname -r) to ensure the fixed module is loaded.
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-47601?
This vulnerability is a logic error in the AMD TEE driver's memory allocation routine where the kernel incorrectly checks for error conditions using IS_ERR() on a function that returns NULL instead of error pointers, potentially causing a NULL pointer dereference during TEE operations.
Is CVE-2021-47601 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are currently available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2021-47601?
Linux kernel versions 5.11 through 5.15.10 are affected; the fix was released in kernel 5.15.11.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2021-47601?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version. If it is between 5.11 and 5.15.10 inclusive, you are vulnerable. Verify AMD TEE support with: grep CONFIG_TEE_AMDTEE /boot/config-$(uname -r) | grep -q '^CONFIG_TEE_AMDTEE=y' && echo 'Vulnerable' || echo 'Not vulnerable'.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2021-47601?
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-2021-47601 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/640e28d618e82be78fb43b4bf5113bc90d6aa442
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/832f3655c6138c23576ed268e31cc76e0f05f2b1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d7482771fac8d8e38e763263f2ca0ca12dd22c6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/640e28d618e82be78fb43b4bf5113bc90d6aa442
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/832f3655c6138c23576ed268e31cc76e0f05f2b1
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