CVE-2021-47571

Kernel memory corruption via stale disconnect pointer

Published May 24, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in the rtl8192e PCI disconnect path in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during device removal. The path calls free_rtllib(dev) and then passes the freed dev pointer to stop_adapter() from _rtl92e_pci_disconnect(). Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and execution of that device-disconnect path; the stale access can corrupt memory or interrupt the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the rtl8192e PCI disconnect path in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during device removal. The path calls free_rtllib(dev) and then passes the freed dev pointer to stop_adapter() from _rtl92e_pci_disconnect(). Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and execution of that device-disconnect path; the stale access can corrupt memory or interrupt the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-47571
Published
May 24, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 24, 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=3.2
  2. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <2e1ec01af2c7139c6a600bbfaea1a018b35094b6
  3. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <8d0163cec7de995f9eb9c3128c83fb84f0cb1c64
  4. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <9186680382934b0e7529d3d70dcc0a21d087683b
  5. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <b535917c51acc97fb0761b1edec85f1f3d02bda4
  6. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <bca19bb2dc2d89ce60c4a4a6e59609d4cf2e13ef
  7. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <c0ef0e75a858cbd8618b473f22fbca36106dcf82
  8. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <d43aecb694b10db9a4228ce2d38b5ae8de374443
  9. Affected versionversion=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <e27ee2f607fe6a9b923ef1fc65461c0613c97594

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.2; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <2e1ec01af2c7139c6a600bbfaea1a018b35094b6; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <8d0163cec7de995f9eb9c3128c83fb84f0cb1c64; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <9186680382934b0e7529d3d70dcc0a21d087683b; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <b535917c51acc97fb0761b1edec85f1f3d02bda4; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <bca19bb2dc2d89ce60c4a4a6e59609d4cf2e13ef; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <c0ef0e75a858cbd8618b473f22fbca36106dcf82; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <d43aecb694b10db9a4228ce2d38b5ae8de374443; version=66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 <e27ee2f607fe6a9b923ef1fc65461c0613c97594

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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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-416Use After Free

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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