CVE-2021-4135

Kernel-memory disclosure via uninitialized netdevsim map values

Published Jul 14, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information disclosure in Linux Kernel netdevsim before 5.16-rc6 allows local users to read kernel heap data through BPF map lookup. nsim_map_alloc_elem allocates array-map values with kmalloc without zeroing them, and map_lookup_elem later copies the uninitialized bytes to user space. A low-privileged local user must be able to create and query an offloaded BPF array map; the result is disclosure of residual kernel-memory contents.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in Linux Kernel netdevsim before 5.16-rc6 allows local users to read kernel heap data through BPF map lookup. nsim_map_alloc_elem allocates array-map values with kmalloc without zeroing them, and map_lookup_elem later copies the uninitialized bytes to user space. A low-privileged local user must be able to create and query an offloaded BPF array map; the result is disclosure of residual kernel-memory contents.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4135
Published
Jul 14, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-401, CWE-200
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 14, 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=Linux kernel versions prior to 5.16-rc6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Linux kernel versions prior to 5.16-rc6

Published CVSS scores

4.7Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

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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