LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2021-38205: drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c in the Linux kernel before 5.13.3 makes it easier for attacke...

drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c in the Linux kernel before 5.13.3 makes it easier for attackers to defeat an ASLR protection mechanism because it prints a kernel pointer (i.e., the real IOMEM pointer).

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel information disclosure issue. A Xilinx Ethernet driver printed a real kernel I/O memory pointer, making kernel address randomization easier to bypass. By itself, this is not described as code execution or data theft, but it can weaken defenses used against other kernel vulnerabilities.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management, with higher priority for embedded or FPGA-adjacent Linux systems using Xilinx networking. This is not sourced as actively exploited, but it weakens a core kernel hardening control.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38205 affects drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c in Linux kernels before 5.13.3. The driver exposed a real IOMEM pointer in output, reducing ASLR effectiveness. The public bundle cites the upstream Linux commit, Linux 5.13.3 changelog, and Debian LTS kernel security updates.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running kernels before 5.13.3 where the Xilinx Emaclite Ethernet driver is present or used. The bundle does not identify specific products, configurations, or package versions beyond upstream and Debian kernel updates.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not report active exploitation, and KEV status is false. The issue is best treated as a defense-bypass enabler: it may help an attacker combine another kernel bug with leaked kernel address information.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow but consistent: the CVE description, upstream commit, Linux 5.13.3 changelog, and Debian advisories point to a kernel pointer exposure in xilinx_emaclite.c. No CVSS, CWE, exploit evidence, or detailed affected-product matrix is provided.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a kernel update containing the upstream fix or a vendor backport.
  • For Debian LTS systems, review and apply the cited Debian linux security updates.
  • Check Linux distribution guidance for fixed kernel package versions.
  • Prioritize systems using Xilinx Emaclite networking or custom embedded kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm the running kernel is 5.13.3 or includes the upstream fix commit.
  • Review vendor or distribution changelogs for CVE-2021-38205 coverage.
  • Inventory systems for the Xilinx Emaclite Ethernet driver.
  • Check whether affected kernels remain in production images or firmware builds.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-38205 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.