CVE-2021-4155Public exploit

Local XFS data disclosure via incorrect preallocation

Published Aug 24, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information disclosure in Linux Kernel before 5.16 allows local users to read inaccessible XFS data through XFS_IOC_ALLOCSP. The xfs_ioc_space path grows an unaligned file past EOF with allocation type 0, exposing existing block contents instead of mapping them as unwritten preallocation. A low-privileged local account must invoke the legacy ioctl on a file in an XFS filesystem; the consequence is disclosure of otherwise unreadable filesystem data.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
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 before 5.16 allows local users to read inaccessible XFS data through XFS_IOC_ALLOCSP. The xfs_ioc_space path grows an unaligned file past EOF with allocation type 0, exposing existing block contents instead of mapping them as unwritten preallocation. A low-privileged local account must invoke the legacy ioctl on a file in an XFS filesystem; the consequence is disclosure of otherwise unreadable filesystem data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4155
Published
Aug 24, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-131, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 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=Fixed in Kernel v5.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Fixed in Kernel v5.16

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5SUSECVSS: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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-131Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

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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