Description
loop_rw_iter in fs/io_uring.c in the Linux kernel 5.10 through 5.14.6 allows local users to gain privileges by using IORING_OP_PROVIDE_BUFFERS to trigger a free of a kernel buffer, as demonstrated by using /proc/<pid>/maps for exploitation.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 5.14.6-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.14.6-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.14.6-2 | — |
| Debian 11 | linux | 5.10.46-5 | DSA-4978-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.11 +1 | 5.11.0-1019.20~20.04.1 | USN-5092-2, USN-5092-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.11 | 5.11.0-1017.18~20.04.1 | USN-5092-2 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.11 | 5.11.0-1020.22~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.11 | 5.11.0-37.41~20.04.2 | USN-5092-2 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oem-5.10 | 5.10.0-1049.51 | USN-5106-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oem-5.13 | 5.13.0-1014.18 | USN-5096-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv +7 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.11 | 5.11.0-1020.21~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +13 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | kernel | 5.10.78.1-1 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
GitHub 2 repositories
-
chompie1337/Linux_LPE_io_uring_CVE-2021-41073 ★ 101 · Mar 2, 2022
-
WhatsWrongAndWhy/CVE-2021-41073 ★ 0 · Jul 21, 2026
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 6
- USN-5096-1 linux-oem-5.13 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 9, 2026
- USN-5092-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.11, linux-gcp, linux-kvm, linux-oracle, linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-5106-1 linux-oem-5.10 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-5092-2 linux-hwe-5.11, linux-azure, linux-azure-5.11, linux-oracle-5.11 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- DSA-4978-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1586 Linux Kernel: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Privilegieneskalation BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 28, 2023
References
- [oss-security] 20210918 Linux Kernel: Exploitable vulnerability in io_uring mailing-list
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=16c8d2df7ec0eed31b7d3b61cb13206a7fb930cc
- DSA-4978 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-884d245ef8 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-e0d6215753 vendor-advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211014-0003/
- [oss-security] 20220604 Re: Linux Kernel: Exploitable vulnerability in io_uring mailing-list