CVE-2021-3491 HIGH

CVE-2021-3491: Linux kernel io_uring PROVIDE_BUFFERS MAX_RW_COUNT bypass

Vendor Linux
Product Linux kernel
Weakness CWE-131
Published June 4, 2021
Last update September 16, 2024

CVSS base score

7.8/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity High
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

The io_uring subsystem in the Linux kernel allowed the MAX_RW_COUNT limit to be bypassed in the PROVIDE_BUFFERS operation, which led to negative values being usedin mem_rw when reading /proc/<PID>/mem. This could be used to create a heap overflow leading to arbitrary code execution in the kernel. It was addressed via commit d1f82808877b ("io_uring: truncate lengths larger than MAX_RW_COUNT on provide buffers") (v5.13-rc1) and backported to the stable kernels in v5.12.4, v5.11.21, and v5.10.37. It was introduced in ddf0322db79c ("io_uring: add IORING_OP_PROVIDE_BUFFERS") (v5.7-rc1).

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

June 4, 2021 CVE published
September 16, 2024 Record updated