Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel AMD GPU driver bug that can crash a system when the affected memory cleanup path is hit. The provided sources describe a use-after-free in amdgpu, with a kernel panic trace. Business risk is mainly availability for Linux systems using affected AMD GPU driver code.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted availability risk for AMD GPU Linux fleets. Prioritize patching where GPU workloads support production services, shared workstations, or research compute. Broader urgency is uncertain because the bundle lacks CVSS, exploit evidence, and full impact details.
Technical view
CVE-2021-47142 is a use-after-free in Linux drm/amdgpu. The source says ttm->sg was not set to NULL, allowing sg_free_table to operate on stale memory during amdgpu TTM backend cleanup. The trace occurs through KFD GPU memory allocation and ends in a general protection fault.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with AMD GPU support through amdgpu/KFD. Systems without AMD GPUs or without the affected driver path are less likely exposed. The affected version data in the bundle is limited and should be validated against distro kernel packages.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not report active exploitation, and kev is false. The evidence shows a crash/panic condition from a kernel driver use-after-free. The call trace suggests a local GPU memory allocation path, but the sources do not provide a complete exploitability assessment.
Researcher notes
Focus review on amdgpu TTM backend unbind/destroy behavior and whether ttm->sg is cleared after freeing. The public record includes multiple stable commit references but does not include CWE, CVSS, or exploit status. Validate exact affected ranges through kernel or distro metadata.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced amdgpu stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for the matching backported kernel package.
- Prioritize systems using AMD GPUs for compute, desktop, or graphics workloads.
- Avoid inventing compensating controls until vendor guidance is reviewed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts with AMD GPUs and the amdgpu driver enabled.
- Compare running kernel packages against vendor-fixed versions or referenced stable commits.
- Review crash logs for amdgpu, KFD, sg_free_table, or general protection faults.
- Confirm change control includes rebooting into the fixed kernel.
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-2021-47142 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/0707c3fea8102d211631ba515ef2159707561b0dCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3293cf3513d69f00c14d43e2020826d45ea0e46aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/952ab3f9f48eb0e8050596d41951cf516be6b122CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a849e218556f932576c0fb1c5a88714b61709a17CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7398c2aab4da960761ec182d04d6d5abbb4a226eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f98cdf084405333ee2f5be548a91b2d168e49276CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4ea141fd4b40636a8326df5a377d9c5cf9b3faaCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e5c37385097c35911b0f8a0c67ffd10ee1af9a2CVE 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.