CVE-2021-47441

Kernel memory corruption via unchecked cooling state

Published May 22, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds memory access in the mlxsw thermal driver in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users to access kernel memory beyond bounds. The cooling-device setter accepts a state above the driver maximum, causing thermal_cooling_device_stats_update to index its transition table with an excessive state value. Exploitation requires an mlxsw cooling device, CONFIG_THERMAL_STATISTICS enabled, and write access to its sysfs cur_state control; resulting reads or writes can corrupt kernel memory.

CVSS severity7.3
High
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

Out-of-bounds memory access in the mlxsw thermal driver in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users to access kernel memory beyond bounds. The cooling-device setter accepts a state above the driver maximum, causing thermal_cooling_device_stats_update to index its transition table with an excessive state value. Exploitation requires an mlxsw cooling device, CONFIG_THERMAL_STATISTICS enabled, and write access to its sysfs cur_state control; resulting reads or writes can corrupt kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-47441
Published
May 22, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 22, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record 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=4.10
  2. Affected versionversion=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <332fdf951df8b870e3da86b122ae304e2aabe88c
  3. Affected versionversion=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <ae0993739e14a102d506aa09e11b0065f3144f10
  4. Affected versionversion=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <df8e58716afb3bee2b59de66b1ba1033f2e26303
  5. Affected versionversion=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <e59d839743b50cb1d3f42a786bea48cc5621d254

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.10; version=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <332fdf951df8b870e3da86b122ae304e2aabe88c; version=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <ae0993739e14a102d506aa09e11b0065f3144f10; version=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <df8e58716afb3bee2b59de66b1ba1033f2e26303; version=a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56 <e59d839743b50cb1d3f42a786bea48cc5621d254
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=4.10; version=a50c1e35650b <332fdf951df8; version=a50c1e35650b <ae0993739e14; version=a50c1e35650b <df8e58716afb; version=a50c1e35650b <e59d839743b5

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/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-787Out-of-bounds Write

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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