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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47304: tcp: fix tcp_init_transfer() to not reset icsk_ca_initialized

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: fix tcp_init_transfer() to not reset icsk_ca_initialized This commit fixes a bug (found by syzkaller) that could cause spurious double-initializations for congestion control modules, which could cause memory leaks or other problems for congestion control modules (like CDG) that allocate memory in their init functions. The buggy scenario constructed by syzkaller was something like: (1) create a TCP socket (2) initiate a TFO connect via sendto() (3) while socket is in TCP_SYN_SENT, call setsockopt(TCP_CONGESTION), which calls: tcp_set_congestion_control() -> tcp_reinit_congestion_control() -> tcp_init_congestion_control() (4) receive ACK, connection is established, call tcp_init_transfer(), set icsk_ca_initialized=0 (without first calling cc->release()), call tcp_init_congestion_control() again. Note that in this sequence tcp_init_congestion_control() is called twice without a cc->release() call in between. Thus, for CC modules that allocate memory in their init() function, e.g, CDG, a memory leak may occur. The syzkaller tool managed to find a reproducer that triggered such a leak in CDG. The bug was introduced when that commit 8919a9b31eb4 ("tcp: Only init congestion control if not initialized already") introduced icsk_ca_initialized and set icsk_ca_initialized to 0 in tcp_init_transfer(), missing the possibility for a sequence like the one above, where a process could call setsockopt(TCP_CONGESTION) in state TCP_SYN_SENT (i.e. after the connect() or TFO open sendmsg()), which would call tcp_init_congestion_control(). It did not intend to reset any initialization that the user had already explicitly made; it just missed the possibility of that particular sequence (which syzkaller managed to find).

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can cause TCP congestion-control code to initialize twice, potentially leaking memory in modules such as CDG. The source does not provide CVSS, real-world exploitation, or business impact evidence. Treat it as a kernel reliability risk until your Linux vendor confirms exposure and fixed builds.

Executive priority

Monitor and patch through normal kernel maintenance unless vendor guidance rates your environment higher. Escalate if affected kernels run shared hosting, sandbox, or untrusted workload platforms where reliability issues can become operational incidents.

Technical view

tcp_init_transfer() reset icsk_ca_initialized after user-triggered congestion-control initialization during TCP_SYN_SENT. A later transfer initialization could call tcp_init_congestion_control() again without cc->release(), causing leaks or other module-specific problems. Syzkaller found a CDG memory-leak reproducer.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or commits listed by the CVE source. Risk is most relevant where workloads can create TCP sockets, use TCP Fast Open/connect flows, and change TCP_CONGESTION during connection setup.

Exploitation context

The source says syzkaller found the bug and a memory leak reproducer. It does not cite active exploitation, KEV listing, public weaponization, or remote unauthenticated exploitation. KEV is false in the provided bundle.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for a kernel logic bug and syzkaller-discovered memory leak in CDG. The source does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit maturity, or complete downstream distribution status, so validation must rely on vendor kernel backport information.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux vendor advisories for fixed kernels containing the referenced stable commits.
  • Update affected Linux kernels through supported vendor or distribution channels.
  • Prioritize multi-tenant or untrusted-workload systems after vendor exposure confirmation.
  • Track kernel memory-leak or TCP congestion-control advisories for your distribution.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Compare deployed versions against the affected versions in the CVE source.
  • Confirm whether vendor kernels include the referenced stable fixes.
  • Review kernel logs and monitoring for unusual memory growth on exposed systems.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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

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

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CVE-2021-47304 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
4Source 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
LinuxLinux8919a9b31eb4fb4c0a93e5fb350a626924302aa6, 8919a9b31eb4fb4c0a93e5fb350a626924302aa6, 8919a9b31eb4fb4c0a93e5fb350a626924302aa6unaffected
LinuxLinux5.10, 0, 5.10.53, 5.13.5, 5.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.