CVE-2021-47482Network attack vector

Kernel crash via uninitialized batman-adv cleanup

Published May 22, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper error handling in Linux kernel 2.6.38 through 5.14.15 allows remote authenticated users to crash the kernel through batman-adv mesh setup. batadv_mesh_init() calls batadv_mesh_free() after partial initialization, causing cleanup routines to process uninitialized fields and a null hash pointer. Reachability requires low privileges and a failed batman-adv initialization path; triggering it can produce a general protection fault and kernel crash.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.74%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper error handling in Linux kernel 2.6.38 through 5.14.15 allows remote authenticated users to crash the kernel through batman-adv mesh setup. batadv_mesh_init() calls batadv_mesh_free() after partial initialization, causing cleanup routines to process uninitialized fields and a null hash pointer. Reachability requires low privileges and a failed batman-adv initialization path; triggering it can produce a general protection fault and kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-47482
Published
May 22, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-544, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
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=2.6.38
  2. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <07533f1a673ce1126d0a72ef1e4b5eaaa3dd6d20
  3. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <0c6b199f09be489c48622537a550787fc80aea73
  4. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6422e8471890273994fe8cc6d452b0dcd2c9483e
  5. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6f68cd634856f8ca93bafd623ba5357e0f648c68
  6. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <a8f7359259dd5923adc6129284fdad12fc5db347
  7. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <b0a2cd38553c77928ef1646ed1518486b1e70ae8
  8. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <e50f957652190b5a88a8ebce7e5ab14ebd0d3f00
  9. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <fbf150b16a3635634b7dfb7f229d8fcd643c6c51

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.38; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <07533f1a673ce1126d0a72ef1e4b5eaaa3dd6d20; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <0c6b199f09be489c48622537a550787fc80aea73; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6422e8471890273994fe8cc6d452b0dcd2c9483e; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6f68cd634856f8ca93bafd623ba5357e0f648c68; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <a8f7359259dd5923adc6129284fdad12fc5db347; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <b0a2cd38553c77928ef1646ed1518486b1e70ae8; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <e50f957652190b5a88a8ebce7e5ab14ebd0d3f00; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <fbf150b16a3635634b7dfb7f229d8fcd643c6c51
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=c6c8fea29769 <6f68cd634856

Published CVSS scores

5.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-544Missing Standardized Error Handling Mechanism
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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