CVE-2021-3570Network attack vector

Memory disclosure and crash via unchecked message length

Published Jul 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Out-of-bounds access in the ptp4l daemon in Linux PTP Project linuxptp allows remote attackers to leak memory or crash the service. The daemon trusts an incoming PTP header messageLength when forwarding between ports, so an oversized value makes msg_post_recv read and possibly write beyond the allocated buffer. Network access to a forwarding boundary or transparent clock is required; on little-endian systems, a crafted management message can corrupt heap memory and lead to code execution.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.96%
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 ptp4l daemon in Linux PTP Project linuxptp allows remote attackers to leak memory or crash the service. The daemon trusts an incoming PTP header messageLength when forwarding between ports, so an oversized value makes msg_post_recv read and possibly write beyond the allocated buffer. Network access to a forwarding boundary or transparent clock is required; on little-endian systems, a crafted management message can corrupt heap memory and lead to code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3570
Published
Jul 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Linux PTP Project
Product
linuxptp
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-787, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=linuxptp 3.1.1, linuxptp 2.0.1, linuxptp 1.9.3, linuxptp 1.8.1, linuxptp 1.7.1, linuxptp 1.6.1, linuxptp 1.5.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Linux PTP Project · linuxptpversion=linuxptp 3.1.1, linuxptp 2.0.1, linuxptp 1.9.3, linuxptp 1.8.1, linuxptp 1.7.1, linuxptp 1.6.1, linuxptp 1.5.1

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:C

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)
Vectornetwork
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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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