Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-47042 is a Linux kernel AMD display driver memory leak. The source describes leaked memory during AMDGPU module loading, not a remote compromise path. Business urgency is mainly for systems running affected Linux kernels with AMD graphics, especially fleets where repeated driver initialization could create stability risk.
Executive priority
Treat this as routine kernel maintenance unless affected AMDGPU systems are stability-sensitive. There is no supplied evidence of exploitation or remote compromise, but unpatched kernel driver leaks can still create operational reliability risk.
Technical view
The issue is in Linux kernel drm/amd/display, where dc_link_construct/link_create allocated local data that was not freed. The provided backtrace shows the leak during amd_module_load through amdgpu initialization. Stable kernel commits are referenced as the resolution. No CVSS, CWE, or exploit details are provided.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using affected kernel versions with the AMDGPU display stack. The bundle lists Linux kernel 5.12-related affected version data and stable fixes, but distribution backport status must be verified per vendor kernel package.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not report active exploitation, KEV listing, public exploit use, or a remote attack vector. Evidence supports a memory leak during local AMDGPU driver initialization rather than an externally reachable vulnerability.
Researcher notes
The source evidence is narrow: a kernel memory leak fix with a diagnostic backtrace and two stable commit references. Version metadata is incomplete for distribution kernels, so validation should focus on vendor package status and whether AMDGPU display code is present.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported AMDGPU fixes.
- Prioritize systems with AMD graphics and affected 5.12-era kernels.
- Monitor vendor guidance if exact package mapping is unclear.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions and AMDGPU usage across assets.
- Map installed kernels to distribution security advisories or stable commits.
- Review kernel logs for AMDGPU initialization issues or leak reports.
- Confirm patched hosts no longer match affected kernel package ranges.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-2021-47042 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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.
SSVC decision data
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/296443139f893b554dddd56a99ba8471ab5802d4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/616cf23b6cf40ad6f03ffbddfa1b6c4eb68d8ae1CVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.