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CVE-2021-3492

Ubuntu linux kernel shiftfs file system double free vulnerability

Public exploit available. Not confirmed exploited in the wild yet. A vendor fix is available.

CVSS 3.18.8HighEPSS percentile74th1.5% chance in 30 daysCISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
Public exploit: 2 sourcesFixVendor fixNo build named by the sources

Published Updated Sources: CVE.org, NVD, BDU

NVD CVE.org

What to do

The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.

Check it yourselfA free OpenVAS check exists for this CVE. Run it against your hosts.Is your organisation exposed?Request an assessment to establish which checks fit your systems.

What it is

From the CVE record

Shiftfs, an out-of-tree stacking file system included in Ubuntu Linux kernels, did not properly handle faults occurring during copy_from_user() correctly. These could lead to either a double-free situation or memory not being freed at all. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (kernel memory exhaustion) or gain privileges via executing arbitrary code. AKA ZDI-CAN-13562.

In plain language

No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.

Exploitation

Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.

EPSS74th
Public exploit
CISA KEV

Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.

Public exploits

2 sources with a proof of concept or module.

Exploit links, PoCs and Metasploit modules after sign-in
EPSS

1.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 74th percentile of scored CVEs.

Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.

Lifecycle

The patch came 471 days before any public exploit.

  1. OpenVAS check added
  2. EPSS band changemoderate → low
  3. Public exploit / PoCsource: packetstorm
  4. Patch availablerecord updated
  5. Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped

Affected products

Technical detail

CVSS 3.1 vector

Open in the CVSS calculator

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

Scored 8.8 by NVD.

How it is reached

  • Attack Vector LocalRequires local access to the vulnerable system (e.g. local login, malicious file)
  • Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
  • Privileges Required LowRequires basic user-level privileges
  • User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation

Scope

  • Scope ChangedThe exploit can affect other components (e.g. sandbox escape, host compromise from VM)

Impact if exploited

  • Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
  • Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
  • Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable

Weaknesses

ATT&CK techniques

Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.

Sources

References in the record

And 10 more references. See all after sign-in

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