CVE-2021-4023

Local kernel panic via improper request cancellation

Published Mar 9, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper cancellation in Linux Kernel before 5.15-rc1 allows local users to crash the system through io_uring requests. When io_wqe_create_worker() fails after io_wqe_insert_work() has enqueued a request, io_wqe_enqueue() directly calls io_run_cancel() even though another worker can execute that request during cancellation. The trigger requires permission to submit io_uring work and worker-creation failure under resource pressure; successful triggering causes a kernel panic.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper cancellation in Linux Kernel before 5.15-rc1 allows local users to crash the system through io_uring requests. When io_wqe_create_worker() fails after io_wqe_insert_work() has enqueued a request, io_wqe_enqueue() directly calls io_run_cancel() even though another worker can execute that request during cancellation. The trigger requires permission to submit io_uring work and worker-creation failure under resource pressure; successful triggering causes a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4023
Published
Mar 9, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-200, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 9, 2022CVE 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=kernel versions prior to 5.15-rc1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=kernel versions prior to 5.15-rc1

Published CVSS scores

4.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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