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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47011: mm: memcontrol: slab: fix obtain a reference to a freeing memcg

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: memcontrol: slab: fix obtain a reference to a freeing memcg Patch series "Use obj_cgroup APIs to charge kmem pages", v5. Since Roman's series "The new cgroup slab memory controller" applied. All slab objects are charged with the new APIs of obj_cgroup. The new APIs introduce a struct obj_cgroup to charge slab objects. It prevents long-living objects from pinning the original memory cgroup in the memory. But there are still some corner objects (e.g. allocations larger than order-1 page on SLUB) which are not charged with the new APIs. Those objects (include the pages which are allocated from buddy allocator directly) are charged as kmem pages which still hold a reference to the memory cgroup. E.g. We know that the kernel stack is charged as kmem pages because the size of the kernel stack can be greater than 2 pages (e.g. 16KB on x86_64 or arm64). If we create a thread (suppose the thread stack is charged to memory cgroup A) and then move it from memory cgroup A to memory cgroup B. Because the kernel stack of the thread hold a reference to the memory cgroup A. The thread can pin the memory cgroup A in the memory even if we remove the cgroup A. If we want to see this scenario by using the following script. We can see that the system has added 500 dying cgroups (This is not a real world issue, just a script to show that the large kmallocs are charged as kmem pages which can pin the memory cgroup in the memory). #!/bin/bash cat /proc/cgroups | grep memory cd /sys/fs/cgroup/memory echo 1 > memory.move_charge_at_immigrate for i in range{1..500} do mkdir kmem_test echo $$ > kmem_test/cgroup.procs sleep 3600 & echo $$ > cgroup.procs echo `cat kmem_test/cgroup.procs` > cgroup.procs rmdir kmem_test done cat /proc/cgroups | grep memory This patchset aims to make those kmem pages to drop the reference to memory cgroup by using the APIs of obj_cgroup. Finally, we can see that the number of the dying cgroups will not increase if we run the above test script. This patch (of 7): The rcu_read_lock/unlock only can guarantee that the memcg will not be freed, but it cannot guarantee the success of css_get (which is in the refill_stock when cached memcg changed) to memcg. rcu_read_lock() memcg = obj_cgroup_memcg(old) __memcg_kmem_uncharge(memcg) refill_stock(memcg) if (stock->cached != memcg) // css_get can change the ref counter from 0 back to 1. css_get(&memcg->css) rcu_read_unlock() This fix is very like the commit: eefbfa7fd678 ("mm: memcg/slab: fix use after free in obj_cgroup_charge") Fix this by holding a reference to the memcg which is passed to the __memcg_kmem_uncharge() before calling __memcg_kmem_uncharge().

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue is a memory-management bug in cgroup slab accounting. Under specific memory cgroup activity, kernel code could take a reference to a memory cgroup that is already being freed. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, confirmed impact, or exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel maintenance issue with uncertain severity. Prioritize patching where cgroups support containers, workload isolation, or multi-tenant services, but do not escalate as actively exploited based on the provided evidence.

Technical view

The bug is in memcontrol slab/kmem uncharging. RCU protection prevented immediate free, but did not guarantee css_get would succeed when refill_stock changed the cached memcg. The fix holds a memcg reference before __memcg_kmem_uncharge(), avoiding refcount resurrection during teardown.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using affected kernel builds with memory cgroups enabled, especially container or multi-tenant hosts. Exact distribution package impact must be mapped through vendor kernel advisories.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks KEV as false and cites no public active exploitation. The kernel description includes a stress scenario for dying cgroups, but says that scenario is demonstrative and not a real-world issue.

Researcher notes

The key condition is a memcg lifetime/refcount race around obj_cgroup_memcg() and __memcg_kmem_uncharge(). The supplied data lacks CVSS, CWE, distribution mapping, and exploitability analysis, so impact assessment should remain cautious.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for package-specific affected and fixed versions.
  • Prioritize container hosts and systems relying on memory cgroups.
  • Avoid inventing local workarounds; follow vendor kernel guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts.
  • Confirm whether memory cgroups are enabled and used.
  • Map kernel packages to the cited upstream stable commits.
  • Verify patched kernels after reboot, not just package installation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

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CVE-2021-47011 mapping review

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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
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux26f54dac15640c65ec69867e182de7be708ea389, 3de7d4f25a7438f09fef4e71ef111f1805cd8e7c, 3de7d4f25a7438f09fef4e71ef111f1805cd8e7c, 3de7d4f25a7438f09fef4e71ef111f1805cd8e7cunaffected
LinuxLinux5.11, 0, 5.10.37, 5.11.21, 5.12.4, 5.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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