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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47294: netrom: Decrease sock refcount when sock timers expire

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netrom: Decrease sock refcount when sock timers expire Commit 63346650c1a9 ("netrom: switch to sock timer API") switched to use sock timer API. It replaces mod_timer() by sk_reset_timer(), and del_timer() by sk_stop_timer(). Function sk_reset_timer() will increase the refcount of sock if it is called on an inactive timer, hence, in case the timer expires, we need to decrease the refcount ourselves in the handler, otherwise, the sock refcount will be unbalanced and the sock will never be freed.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-47294 is a Linux kernel NET/ROM socket lifecycle bug. When certain socket timers expire, the kernel can fail to drop a reference count, so affected sockets are never freed. The source does not provide CVSS, impact scoring, or confirmed attack conditions.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch governance unless NET/ROM is used in production or kernel provenance is uncertain. The business concern is resource leakage and potential availability impact, but severity and exploitation details are not established in the source.

Technical view

A prior change moved NET/ROM to the sock timer API. sk_reset_timer() can increment a socket reference when called on an inactive timer. The timer handler did not decrement that reference on expiry, creating an unbalanced refcount and preventing socket cleanup.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the NET/ROM code path in use. The source lists affected Linux versions and stable fixes, but does not state whether exploitation is local, remote, authenticated, or default-enabled.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is cited, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The public source describes a kernel resource cleanup defect, not an exploit technique. Treat exploitability and attacker preconditions as unconfirmed from the provided evidence.

Researcher notes

The key condition is refcount imbalance after sk_reset_timer() on inactive NET/ROM socket timers. The provided data supports a kernel memory/resource leak conclusion, but does not establish reachability, privilege requirements, crash behavior, or practical denial-of-service impact.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable NET/ROM fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixed package versions.
  • Prioritize hosts using NET/ROM or custom kernels with NET/ROM enabled.
  • Track this as unresolved where kernel provenance or backport status is unclear.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across exposed and internally managed systems.
  • Confirm whether kernels include the referenced stable commits or distro backports.
  • Identify systems with NET/ROM support enabled or operationally required.
  • Review vendor advisories for affected package names and fixed release numbers.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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-2021-47294 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
9Source 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
LinuxLinuxce29e8a259de767f7210d346ad2b031cb8ab2732, baa9e32336bf6d0d74a7c3486d2a27feaf57cd5f, 0adf571fa34b27bd0b97b408cc0f0dc54b72f0eb, 2c6b572458a9127e8070df13fa7f115c29ab1d92, 63346650c1a94a92be61a57416ac88c0a47c4327, 63346650c1a94a92be61a57416ac88c0a47c4327, 63346650c1a94a92be61a57416ac88c0a47c4327, 63346650c1a94a92be61a57416ac88c0a47c4327, f1d9a1f2ef6ff17293d21d5e6b80e04bea0cf508, 519e8a22a454b1f1baa3a151b184fe51bc18e178unaffected
LinuxLinux5.0, 0, 4.4.277, 4.9.277, 4.14.241, 4.19.199, 5.4.136, 5.10.54, 5.13.6, 5.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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