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Unscored CVE-2021-47118 EUVD-2021-33766GHSA-f22j-p6f5-7h8x

pid: take a reference when initializing `cad_pid`

Published Mar 15, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

Vendor: Linux Product: Linux Package: linux Package: linux Package: linux-allwinner-5.19 Package: linux-aws Package: linux-aws-5.0 Package: linux-aws-5.11 Package: linux-aws-5.13 Package: linux-aws-5.19 Package: linux-aws-5.3 Package: linux-aws-5.4 Package: linux-aws-5.8 Package: linux-aws-6.2 Package: linux-aws-fips Package: linux-aws-hwe Package: linux-azure Package: linux-azure-4.15 Package: linux-azure-5.11 Package: linux-azure-5.13 Package: linux-azure-5.19 Package: linux-azure-5.3 Package: linux-azure-5.4 Package: linux-azure-5.8 Package: linux-azure-6.2 Package: linux-azure-edge Package: linux-azure-fde Package: linux-azure-fde-5.19 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.2 Package: linux-azure-fips Package: linux-bluefield Package: linux-fips Package: linux-gcp Package: linux-gcp-4.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.11 Package: linux-gcp-5.13 Package: linux-gcp-5.19 Package: linux-gcp-5.3 Package: linux-gcp-5.4 Package: linux-gcp-5.8 Package: linux-gcp-6.2 Package: linux-gcp-fips Package: linux-gke Package: linux-gke-4.15 Package: linux-gke-5.15 Package: linux-gke-5.4 Package: linux-gkeop Package: linux-gkeop-5.4 Package: linux-hwe Package: linux-hwe-5.11 Package: linux-hwe-5.13 Package: linux-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-hwe-5.4 Package: linux-hwe-5.8 Package: linux-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-hwe-edge Package: linux-intel-5.13 Package: linux-intel-iot-realtime Package: linux-kvm Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-lts-xenial Package: linux-nvidia-6.2 Package: linux-oem Package: linux-oem-5.10 Package: linux-oem-5.13 Package: linux-oem-5.14 Package: linux-oem-5.17 Package: linux-oem-5.6 Package: linux-oem-6.0 Package: linux-oem-6.1 Package: linux-oracle Package: linux-oracle-5.0 Package: linux-oracle-5.11 Package: linux-oracle-5.13 Package: linux-oracle-5.3 Package: linux-oracle-5.4 Package: linux-oracle-5.8 Package: linux-raspi Package: linux-raspi-5.4 Package: linux-raspi-realtime Package: linux-raspi2 Package: linux-realtime Package: linux-riscv Package: linux-riscv-5.11 Package: linux-riscv-5.19 Package: linux-riscv-5.8 Package: linux-starfive-5.19 Package: linux-starfive-6.2 Package: linux-vmware Platform: Linux Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

pid: take a reference when initializing `cad_pid`

During boot, kernel_init_freeable() initializes `cad_pid` to the init
task's struct pid. Later on, we may change `cad_pid` via a sysctl, and
when this happens proc_do_cad_pid() will increment the refcount on the
new pid via get_pid(), and will decrement the refcount on the old pid
via put_pid(). As we never called get_pid() when we initialized
`cad_pid`, we decrement a reference we never incremented, can therefore
free the init task's struct pid early. As there can be dangling
references to the struct pid, we can later encounter a use-after-free
(e.g. when delivering signals).

This was spotted when fuzzing v5.13-rc3 with Syzkaller, but seems to
have been around since the conversion of `cad_pid` to struct pid in
commit 9ec52099e4b8 ("[PATCH] replace cad_pid by a struct pid") from the
pre-KASAN stone age of v2.6.19.

Fix this by getting a reference to the init task's struct pid when we
assign it to `cad_pid`.

Full KASAN splat below.

==================================================================
BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in ns_of_pid include/linux/pid.h:153 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in task_active_pid_ns+0xc0/0xc8 kernel/pid.c:509
Read of size 4 at addr ffff23794dda0004 by task syz-executor.0/273

CPU: 1 PID: 273 Comm: syz-executor.0 Not tainted 5.12.0-00001-g9aef892b2d15 #1
Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT)
Call trace:
ns_of_pid include/linux/pid.h:153 [inline]
task_active_pid_ns+0xc0/0xc8 kernel/pid.c:509
do_notify_parent+0x308/0xe60 kernel/signal.c:1950
exit_notify kernel/exit.c:682 [inline]
do_exit+0x2334/0x2bd0 kernel/exit.c:845
do_group_exit+0x108/0x2c8 kernel/exit.c:922
get_signal+0x4e4/0x2a88 kernel/signal.c:2781
do_signal arch/arm64/kernel/signal.c:882 [inline]
do_notify_resume+0x300/0x970 arch/arm64/kernel/signal.c:936
work_pending+0xc/0x2dc

Allocated by task 0:
slab_post_alloc_hook+0x50/0x5c0 mm/slab.h:516
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:2907 [inline]
slab_alloc mm/slub.c:2915 [inline]
kmem_cache_alloc+0x1f4/0x4c0 mm/slub.c:2920
alloc_pid+0xdc/0xc00 kernel/pid.c:180
copy_process+0x2794/0x5e18 kernel/fork.c:2129
kernel_clone+0x194/0x13c8 kernel/fork.c:2500
kernel_thread+0xd4/0x110 kernel/fork.c:2552
rest_init+0x44/0x4a0 init/main.c:687
arch_call_rest_init+0x1c/0x28
start_kernel+0x520/0x554 init/main.c:1064
0x0

Freed by task 270:
slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:1562 [inline]
slab_free_freelist_hook+0x98/0x260 mm/slub.c:1600
slab_free mm/slub.c:3161 [inline]
kmem_cache_free+0x224/0x8e0 mm/slub.c:3177
put_pid.part.4+0xe0/0x1a8 kernel/pid.c:114
put_pid+0x30/0x48 kernel/pid.c:109
proc_do_cad_pid+0x190/0x1b0 kernel/sysctl.c:1401
proc_sys_call_handler+0x338/0x4b0 fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c:591
proc_sys_write+0x34/0x48 fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c:617
call_write_iter include/linux/fs.h:1977 [inline]
new_sync_write+0x3ac/0x510 fs/read_write.c:518
vfs_write fs/read_write.c:605 [inline]
vfs_write+0x9c4/0x1018 fs/read_write.c:585
ksys_write+0x124/0x240 fs/read_write.c:658
__do_sys_write fs/read_write.c:670 [inline]
__se_sys_write fs/read_write.c:667 [inline]
__arm64_sys_write+0x78/0xb0 fs/read_write.c:667
__invoke_syscall arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:37 [inline]
invoke_syscall arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:49 [inline]
el0_svc_common.constprop.1+0x16c/0x388 arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:129
do_el0_svc+0xf8/0x150 arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:168
el0_svc+0x28/0x38 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:416
el0_sync_handler+0x134/0x180 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:432
el0_sync+0x154/0x180 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:701

The buggy address belongs to the object at ffff23794dda0000
which belongs to the cache pid of size 224
The buggy address is located 4 bytes inside of
224-byte region [ff
---truncated---

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Linux Linux 2.6.19 4.4.272

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.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 linux 5.10.46-1 —
Debian 13 linux 5.10.46-1 —
Debian 12 linux 5.10.46-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-raspi-realtime No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-riscv +22 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux 5.4.0-81.91 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-aws 5.4.0-1055.58 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure 5.4.0-1056.58 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-bluefield 5.4.0-1019.22 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gcp 5.4.0-1051.55 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gke +26 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gkeop 5.4.0-1022.23 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-kvm 5.4.0-1045.47 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-oracle 5.4.0-1053.57 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-raspi 5.4.0-1042.46 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux 4.15.0-154.161 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-aws 4.15.0-1110.117 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-aws-5.4 5.4.0-1055.58~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-azure-4.15 4.15.0-1122.135 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-azure-5.4 5.4.0-1056.58~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp +14 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-4.15 4.15.0-1107.121 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-5.4 5.4.0-1051.55~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.4 5.4.0-81.91~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-kvm 4.15.0-1098.100 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-oracle 4.15.0-1079.87 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-oracle-5.4 5.4.0-1053.57~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-raspi-5.4 5.4.0-1042.46~18.04.3 —
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS linux-hwe-edge No fix yet —
Show 8 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 5.4.0-1069.73+fips2 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 5.4.0-1073.76+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-fips 5.4.0-1032.37 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 4.15.0-2052.54 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 4.15.0-2034.38 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-fips 4.15.0-1068.77 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 4.15.0-2017.19 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS linux-fips 4.4.0-1108.115 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux 4.4.0-262.296 USN-7183-1
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-aws 4.4.0-1177.192 USN-7184-1
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-aws-hwe 4.15.0-1110.117~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-azure 4.15.0-1122.135~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-gcp 4.15.0-1107.121~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-hwe 4.15.0-154.161~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-kvm 4.4.0-1140.151 USN-7184-1
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-oracle 4.15.0-1079.87~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux-aws 4.4.0-1139.145 USN-7184-1
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux-azure 4.15.0-1122.135~14.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux-lts-xenial 4.4.0-262.296~14.04.1 USN-7183-1
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
RHEL 8 kernel-rt +12 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10 RHSA-2024:3627
RHEL 8 perf +26 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10 RHSA-2024:3618

AlmaLinux

Errata ↗
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
AlmaLinux 8 kernel-rt +11 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10 ALSA-2024:3627
AlmaLinux 8 perf +24 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10 ALSA-2024:3618

Rocky Linux

Errata ↗
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Rocky Linux 8 kernel 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10 RLSA-2024:3618
Rocky Linux 8 kernel-rt 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10 RLSA-2024:3627
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES 15 SP3 kernel-64kb +7 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLES 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1.150300.18.92.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLES 15 SP2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1.150200.9.95.3 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLES 15 SP2 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLES 12 SP5 kernel-azure +2 4.12.14-16.182.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1643-1
SLES 12 SP5 kernel-docs +4 4.12.14-122.216.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1870-1
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES for SAP 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1.150300.18.92.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP3 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1.150200.9.95.3 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP2 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLES for SAP 12 SP5 kernel-azure +2 4.12.14-16.182.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1643-1
SLES for SAP 12 SP5 kernel-syms +2 4.12.14-122.216.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1870-1
SLE Real Time 12 SP5 kernel-rt +3 4.12.14-10.182.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1646-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1.150300.18.92.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-rt +1 5.3.18-150300.166.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1465-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1.150300.18.92.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-rt +1 5.3.18-150300.166.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1465-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_43 1-150300.7.3.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP2 kernel-default 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP2 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP2_Update_47 1-150200.5.3.3 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default 4.12.14-122.216.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1870-1
SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_56 1-8.3.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1870-1
SLE HPC 15 SP3 kernel-64kb +6 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE HPC 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1.150300.18.92.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SLE HPC 15 SP2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1.150200.9.95.3 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SLE HPC 15 SP2 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150200.24.188.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1454-1
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-64kb +6 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.158.1.150300.18.92.5 SUSE-SU-2024:1489-1

Amazon Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Amazon Linux 2 kernel-livepatch-4.14.238-182.421 1.0-0.amzn2 ALAS2-2021-1685
Amazon Linux 2 perf +8 4.14.238-182.421.amzn2 ALAS2-2021-1685

Oracle Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Oracle Linux 8 perf +19 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10 ELSA-2024-3618
Oracle Linux 7 kernel-uek +5 4.1.12-124.89.4.el7uek ELSA-2024-12606

Advisories 18

References