CVE-2021-47540: linux kernel vulnerability

What is known

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mt76: mt7915: fix NULL pointer dereference in mt7915_get_phy_mode Fix the following NULL pointer dereference in mt7915_get_phy_mode routine adding an ibss interface to the mt7915 driver. [ 101.137097] wlan0: Trigger new scan to find an IBSS to join [ 102.827039] wlan0: Creating new IBSS network, BSSID 26:a4:50:1a:6e:69 [ 103.064756] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 [ 103.073670] Mem abort info: [ 103.076520] ESR = 0x96000005 [ 103.079614] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 103.084934] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 103.088042] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 103.091215] Data abort info: [ 103.094104] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000005 [ 103.098041] CM = 0, WnR = 0 [ 103.101044] user pgtable: 4k pages, 39-bit VAs, pgdp=00000000460b1000 [ 103.107565] [0000000000000000] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000, pud=0000000000000000 [ 103.116590] Internal error: Oops: 96000005 [#1] SMP [ 103.189066] CPU: 1 PID: 333 Comm: kworker/u4:3 Not tainted 5.10.75 #0 [ 103.195498] Hardware name: MediaTek MT7622 RFB1 board (DT) [ 103.201124] Workqueue: phy0 ieee80211_iface_work [mac80211] [ 103.206695] pstate: 20000005 (nzCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO BTYPE=--) [ 103.212705] pc : mt7915_get_phy_mode+0x68/0x120 [mt7915e] [ 103.218103] lr : mt7915_mcu_add_bss_info+0x11c/0x760 [mt7915e] [ 103.223927] sp : ffffffc011cdb9e0 [ 103.227235] x29: ffffffc011cdb9e0 x28: ffffff8006563098 [ 103.232545] x27: ffffff8005f4da22 x26: ffffff800685ac40 [ 103.237855] x25: 0000000000000001 x24: 000000000000011f [ 103.243165] x23: ffffff8005f4e260 x22: ffffff8006567918 [ 103.248475] x21: ffffff8005f4df80 x20: ffffff800685ac58 [ 103.253785] x19: ffffff8006744400 x18: 0000000000000000 [ 103.259094] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000001 [ 103.264403] x15: 000899c3a2d9d2e4 x14: 000899bdc3c3a1c8 [ 103.269713] x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000000 [ 103.275024] x11: ffffffc010e30c20 x10: 0000000000000000 [ 103.280333] x9 : 0000000000000050 x8 : ffffff8006567d88 [ 103.285642] x7 : ffffff8006563b5c x6 : ffffff8006563b44 [ 103.290952] x5 : 0000000000000002 x4 : 0000000000000001 [ 103.296262] x3 : 0000000000000001 x2 : 0000000000000001 [ 103.301572] x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 0000000000000011 [ 103.306882] Call trace: [ 103.309328] mt7915_get_phy_mode+0x68/0x120 [mt7915e] [ 103.314378] mt7915_bss_info_changed+0x198/0x200 [mt7915e] [ 103.319941] ieee80211_bss_info_change_notify+0x128/0x290 [mac80211] [ 103.326360] __ieee80211_sta_join_ibss+0x308/0x6c4 [mac80211] [ 103.332171] ieee80211_sta_create_ibss+0x8c/0x10c [mac80211] [ 103.337895] ieee80211_ibss_work+0x3dc/0x614 [mac80211] [ 103.343185] ieee80211_iface_work+0x388/0x3f0 [mac80211] [ 103.348495] process_one_work+0x288/0x690 [ 103.352499] worker_thread+0x70/0x464 [ 103.356157] kthread+0x144/0x150 [ 103.359380] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x18 [ 103.362952] Code: 394008c3 52800220 394000e4 7100007f (39400023)

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2021-47540, a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) affecting linux kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether linux kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference