CVE-2021-47111: xen-netback: take a reference to the RX task thread

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2021-47111 is a high (CVSS 8.8) Use After Free vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 14.7% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 15-03-2024
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 05-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen-netback: take a reference to the RX task thread Do this in order to prevent the task from being freed if the thread returns (which can be triggered by the frontend) before the call to kthread_stop done as part of the backend tear down. Not taking the reference will lead to a use-after-free in that scenario. Such reference was taken before but dropped as part of the rework done in 2ac061ce97f4. Reintroduce the reference taking and add a comment this time explaining why it's needed. This is XSA-374 / CVE-2021-28691.

• CWE-416Use After FreeThe product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.