CVE-2021-47137

Kernel memory corruption via invalid RX descriptor

Published Mar 25, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Memory corruption in the Lantiq XRX200 Ethernet driver in Linux allows attackers to corrupt kernel memory after an RX refill failure. The refill path programs a receive descriptor with an invalid DMA address when buffer allocation or DMA mapping fails instead of retaining the prior buffer and mapping. Reachability requires XRX200 hardware and a refill failure; the resulting corruption can crash the system or compromise kernel integrity.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in the Lantiq XRX200 Ethernet driver in Linux allows attackers to corrupt kernel memory after an RX refill failure. The refill path programs a receive descriptor with an invalid DMA address when buffer allocation or DMA mapping fails instead of retaining the prior buffer and mapping. Reachability requires XRX200 hardware and a refill failure; the resulting corruption can crash the system or compromise kernel integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-47137
Published
Mar 25, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-770, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 25, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record 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=4.20
  2. Affected versionversion=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <46dd4abced3cb2c912916f4a5353e0927db0c4a2
  3. Affected versionversion=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <5ac72351655f8b033a2935646f53b7465c903418
  4. Affected versionversion=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <8bb1077448d43a871ed667520763e3b9f9b7975d
  5. Affected versionversion=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <c7718ee96dbc2f9c5fc3b578abdf296dd44b9c20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.20; version=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <46dd4abced3cb2c912916f4a5353e0927db0c4a2; version=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <5ac72351655f8b033a2935646f53b7465c903418; version=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <8bb1077448d43a871ed667520763e3b9f9b7975d; version=fe1a56420cf2ec28c8eceef672b87de0bbe1a260 <c7718ee96dbc2f9c5fc3b578abdf296dd44b9c20
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=0 <=4.20; version=4.20; version=5.10.42 <=5.10*; version=5.12.9 <=5.12*; version=5.13 <=*; version=5.4.124 <=5.4*; version=fe1a56420cf2 <46dd4abced3c; version=fe1a56420cf2 <5ac72351655f; version=fe1a56420cf2 <8bb1077448d4; version=fe1a56420cf2 <c7718ee96dbc

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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 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-770Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo