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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47189: btrfs: fix memory ordering between normal and ordered work functions

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix memory ordering between normal and ordered work functions Ordered work functions aren't guaranteed to be handled by the same thread which executed the normal work functions. The only way execution between normal/ordered functions is synchronized is via the WORK_DONE_BIT, unfortunately the used bitops don't guarantee any ordering whatsoever. This manifested as seemingly inexplicable crashes on ARM64, where async_chunk::inode is seen as non-null in async_cow_submit which causes submit_compressed_extents to be called and crash occurs because async_chunk::inode suddenly became NULL. The call trace was similar to: pc : submit_compressed_extents+0x38/0x3d0 lr : async_cow_submit+0x50/0xd0 sp : ffff800015d4bc20 <registers omitted for brevity> Call trace: submit_compressed_extents+0x38/0x3d0 async_cow_submit+0x50/0xd0 run_ordered_work+0xc8/0x280 btrfs_work_helper+0x98/0x250 process_one_work+0x1f0/0x4ac worker_thread+0x188/0x504 kthread+0x110/0x114 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x18 Fix this by adding respective barrier calls which ensure that all accesses preceding setting of WORK_DONE_BIT are strictly ordered before setting the flag. At the same time add a read barrier after reading of WORK_DONE_BIT in run_ordered_work which ensures all subsequent loads would be strictly ordered after reading the bit. This in turn ensures are all accesses before WORK_DONE_BIT are going to be strictly ordered before any access that can occur in ordered_func.

MediumCVSS 6.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-47189 is a Linux kernel Btrfs bug where worker threads can see stale or inconsistent state. The source describes crashes, especially on ARM64, rather than a proven widespread compromise path. Business urgency is moderate for systems using affected kernels and Btrfs.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch governance, with higher priority for production systems using Btrfs or ARM64. There is no source-backed evidence of active exploitation, but kernel crashes can affect service reliability.

Technical view

The issue is missing memory ordering around Btrfs normal and ordered work functions. WORK_DONE_BIT was used for synchronization without ordering guarantees, allowing fields such as async_chunk::inode to appear inconsistent and leading to crashes in submit_compressed_extents. Stable kernel commits add write and read barriers.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with Btrfs workloads. The source highlights ARM64 crash manifestation and Btrfs compressed extent handling. Distribution exposure requires checking whether vendor kernels include the referenced stable fixes.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle marks KEV as false and does not cite active exploitation. The public description documents crash behavior from a concurrency ordering flaw. Do not treat this as exploited unless later vendor, KEV, or incident sources support that.

Researcher notes

The affected logic relies on WORK_DONE_BIT between normal_func and ordered_func execution. The fix orders accesses before setting the bit and after reading it, preventing ordered_func from observing pre-flag state inconsistently. Affected range evidence is source-bundle limited.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced Linux stable fixes.
  • Prioritize hosts using Btrfs on affected kernel branches.
  • Check distribution advisories before applying custom kernel changes.
  • Schedule reboot or live-patching according to vendor-supported process.
  • Monitor for recurring Btrfs crash traces until patched.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected assets.
  • Identify systems using Btrfs filesystems or Btrfs compression paths.
  • Map installed kernels to vendor fixes or referenced stable commits.
  • Review crash logs for submit_compressed_extents or async_cow_submit traces.
  • Confirm patched systems are running the updated kernel after maintenance.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
10

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-2021-47189 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.3CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L2.83.4CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.3Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-47189Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8, 08a9ff3264181986d1d692a4e6fce3669700c9f8unaffected
LinuxLinux3.15, 0, 4.4.293, 4.9.291, 4.14.256, 4.19.218, 5.4.162, 5.10.82, 5.15.5, 5.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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