CVE-2021-38206: linux linux_kernel NULL Pointer Dereference
CVSS: 5.5v3.1MediumModified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2021-38206DEBIAN-CVE-2021-38206
Published 08-08-2021Last modified 08-10-2026
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2021-38206 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in linux linux_kernel. EPSS estimates a 0.27% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 17.9% of scored vulnerabilities.
CVSS score
5.5/10
010
Medium · v3.1 (NVD)EPSS score
0.27%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 daysKEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 6 · Related 6Timeline
- 08-08-2021PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 08-10-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
The mac80211 subsystem in the Linux kernel before 5.12.13, when a device supporting only 5 GHz is used, allows attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference in the radiotap parser) by injecting a frame with 802.11a rates.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 3 sources · 2 versionsMedium 5.5Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HSourcesAll 3 agree
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Low 2.1Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:PSourcesSingle source
EPSS trend
Probability
0.27%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
18%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 0.27% on 21-09-2026
21-09-202621-10-2026
EPSS score0.27%
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Ubuntu28 products
- linux-aws-5.0All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws-5.11< 5.11.0-1017.18~20.04.1
- linux-aws-5.3All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws-5.8All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-azureAll versions (No fix recorded)
Debian1 product
- linux< 5.10.46-1
Linux1 product
- linux_kernel< 5.12.13
3 vendors · 30 products
References
7 links- cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.12.13X Refsource MISCREPORTMailing ListPatchVendor Advisory
- github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/bddc0c411a45d3718ac535a070f349be8eca8d48X Refsource MISCREPORTPatchThird Party Advisory
