CVE-2021-47118: pid: take a reference when initializing `cad_pid`
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
pid: take a reference when initializing `cad_pid`
During boot, kernel_init_freeable() initializes `cad_pid` to the init
task's struct pid. Later on, we may change `cad_pid` via a sysctl, and
when this happens proc_do_cad_pid() will increment the refcount on the
new pid via get_pid(), and will decrement the refcount on the old pid
via put_pid(). As we never called get_pid() when we initialized
`cad_pid`, we decrement a reference we never incremented, can therefore
free the init task's struct pid early. As there can be dangling
references to the struct pid, we can later encounter a use-after-free
(e.g. when delivering signals).
This was spotted when fuzzing v5.13-rc3 with Syzkaller, but seems to
have been around since the conversion of `cad_pid` to struct pid in
commit 9ec52099e4b8 ("[PATCH] replace cad_pid by a struct pid") from the
pre-KASAN stone age of v2.6.19.
Fix this by getting a reference to the init task's struct pid when we
assign it to `cad_pid`.
Full KASAN splat below.
==================================================================
BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in ns_of_pid include/linux/pid.h:153 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in task_active_pid_ns+0xc0/0xc8 kernel/pid.c:509
Read of size 4 at addr ffff23794dda0004 by task syz-executor.0/273
CPU: 1 PID: 273 Comm: syz-executor.0 Not tainted 5.12.0-00001-g9aef892b2d15 #1
Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT)
Call trace:
ns_of_pid include/linux/pid.h:153 [inline]
task_active_pid_ns+0xc0/0xc8 kernel/pid.c:509
do_notify_parent+0x308/0xe60 kernel/signal.c:1950
exit_notify kernel/exit.c:682 [inline]
do_exit+0x2334/0x2bd0 kernel/exit.c:845
do_group_exit+0x108/0x2c8 kernel/exit.c:922
get_signal+0x4e4/0x2a88 kernel/signal.c:2781
do_signal arch/arm64/kernel/signal.c:882 [inline]
do_notify_resume+0x300/0x970 arch/arm64/kernel/signal.c:936
work_pending+0xc/0x2dc
Allocated by task 0:
slab_post_alloc_hook+0x50/0x5c0 mm/slab.h:516
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:2907 [inline]
slab_alloc mm/slub.c:2915 [inline]
kmem_cache_alloc+0x1f4/0x4c0 mm/slub.c:2920
alloc_pid+0xdc/0xc00 kernel/pid.c:180
copy_process+0x2794/0x5e18 kernel/fork.c:2129
kernel_clone+0x194/0x13c8 kernel/fork.c:2500
kernel_thread+0xd4/0x110 kernel/fork.c:2552
rest_init+0x44/0x4a0 init/main.c:687
arch_call_rest_init+0x1c/0x28
start_kernel+0x520/0x554 init/main.c:1064
0x0
Freed by task 270:
slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:1562 [inline]
slab_free_freelist_hook+0x98/0x260 mm/slub.c:1600
slab_free mm/slub.c:3161 [inline]
kmem_cache_free+0x224/0x8e0 mm/slub.c:3177
put_pid.part.4+0xe0/0x1a8 kernel/pid.c:114
put_pid+0x30/0x48 kernel/pid.c:109
proc_do_cad_pid+0x190/0x1b0 kernel/sysctl.c:1401
proc_sys_call_handler+0x338/0x4b0 fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c:591
proc_sys_write+0x34/0x48 fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c:617
call_write_iter include/linux/fs.h:1977 [inline]
new_sync_write+0x3ac/0x510 fs/read_write.c:518
vfs_write fs/read_write.c:605 [inline]
vfs_write+0x9c4/0x1018 fs/read_write.c:585
ksys_write+0x124/0x240 fs/read_write.c:658
__do_sys_write fs/read_write.c:670 [inline]
__se_sys_write fs/read_write.c:667 [inline]
__arm64_sys_write+0x78/0xb0 fs/read_write.c:667
__invoke_syscall arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:37 [inline]
invoke_syscall arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:49 [inline]
el0_svc_common.constprop.1+0x16c/0x388 arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:129
do_el0_svc+0xf8/0x150 arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:168
el0_svc+0x28/0x38 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:416
el0_sync_handler+0x134/0x180 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:432
el0_sync+0x154/0x180 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:701
The buggy address belongs to the object at ffff23794dda0000
which belongs to the cache pid of size 224
The buggy address is located 4 bytes inside of
224-byte region [ff
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-47118 is a Linux kernel memory-management bug in cad_pid handling. A missing reference during boot can let a later sysctl change free the init task's pid structure too early, leaving dangling references and causing a kernel use-after-free. Public sources show a fix in Linux stable commits, but no KEV-listed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Handle through normal kernel patch governance unless your environment is significantly behind on Linux updates. The bug is in core kernel code and has stable fixes, but the provided evidence does not show active exploitation or a defined business-impact score.
Technical view
The kernel initializes cad_pid without get_pid(), but proc_do_cad_pid() later put_pid()s the old value when cad_pid is changed. That mismatched reference accounting can prematurely free init's struct pid and later trigger use-after-free paths such as signal delivery. The issue was found by Syzkaller fuzzing v5.13-rc3 and traced back to v2.6.19-era code.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel code from the cad_pid conversion lineage through unfixed stable versions. The bundle lists Linux 2.6.19 and multiple 4.x/5.x release lines as affected, with corresponding stable commit references for fixes. Product-specific distribution status is not provided.
Exploitation context
The source evidence describes fuzzing discovery and a KASAN use-after-free trace after writing the cad_pid sysctl. It does not provide public exploitation evidence, impact scoring, or a weaponized exploit. KEV is false, so active exploitation should not be assumed from this bundle.
Researcher notes
Focus review on cad_pid initialization, proc_do_cad_pid(), and pid reference-count symmetry. The key condition is initializing cad_pid without taking a reference, then later dropping that reference during sysctl replacement. Treat exploitability and required privileges as unresolved unless confirmed from vendor or kernel analysis.
Mitigation direction
Update Linux kernels to vendor releases containing the referenced stable fixes.
Use distribution advisories to map package versions to the fixed kernel commits.
Prioritize systems where kernel updates lag behind the listed stable branches.
Avoid treating CVSS or exploitability as known; the bundle provides neither.
Validation and detection
Inventory running kernel versions across servers, appliances, and container hosts.
Compare kernel source or changelog against the referenced stable commit fixes.
Check distribution security trackers for backported fixes under CVE-2021-47118.
Confirm updated systems boot the expected fixed kernel version.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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