CVE-2021-3444

Kernel memory disclosure via incorrect mod32 truncation

Published Mar 23, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux Kernel eBPF verifier allows local users to read kernel memory through a crafted eBPF program. In kernel/bpf/verifier.c, the verifier models a 32-bit modulo-by-zero destination as truncated while the runtime leaves its upper bits unchanged, enabling unsafe verifier conclusions. Reaching the flaw requires permission to load eBPF programs, normally CAP_SYS_ADMIN or root unless unprivileged BPF is enabled; kernel-memory disclosure is established, but controllable writes are not.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux Kernel eBPF verifier allows local users to read kernel memory through a crafted eBPF program. In kernel/bpf/verifier.c, the verifier models a 32-bit modulo-by-zero destination as truncated while the runtime leaves its upper bits unchanged, enabling unsafe verifier conclusions. Reaching the flaw requires permission to load eBPF programs, normally CAP_SYS_ADMIN or root unless unprivileged BPF is enabled; kernel-memory disclosure is established, but controllable writes are not.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3444
Published
Mar 23, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-681, CWE-125, CAPEC-540, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.10 <5.10.19
  2. Affected versionversion=5.11 <5.11.2
  3. Affected versionversion=5.4 <5.4.101
  4. Affected versionversion=trunk <5.12-rc1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.10 <5.10.19; version=5.11 <5.11.2; version=5.4 <5.4.101; version=trunk <5.12-rc1

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Canonical Ltd.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-681Incorrect Conversion between Numeric Types
CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
CAPEC-540Overread Buffers
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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