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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47396: mac80211-hwsim: fix late beacon hrtimer handling

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac80211-hwsim: fix late beacon hrtimer handling Thomas explained in https://lore.kernel.org/r/87mtoeb4hb.ffs@tglx that our handling of the hrtimer here is wrong: If the timer fires late (e.g. due to vCPU scheduling, as reported by Dmitry/syzbot) then it tries to actually rearm the timer at the next deadline, which might be in the past already: 1 2 3 N N+1 | | | ... | | ^ intended to fire here (1) ^ next deadline here (2) ^ actually fired here The next time it fires, it's later, but will still try to schedule for the next deadline (now 3), etc. until it catches up with N, but that might take a long time, causing stalls etc. Now, all of this is simulation, so we just have to fix it, but note that the behaviour is wrong even per spec, since there's no value then in sending all those beacons unaligned - they should be aligned to the TBTT (1, 2, 3, ... in the picture), and if we're a bit (or a lot) late, then just resume at that point. Therefore, change the code to use hrtimer_forward_now() which will ensure that the next firing of the timer would be at N+1 (in the picture), i.e. the next interval point after the current time.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel issue in the mac80211-hwsim Wi-Fi simulation driver. When a high-resolution timer fires late, the driver can repeatedly try to catch up on missed beacon deadlines, causing stalls. The bundle does not show real-world exploitation, CVSS, or impact beyond availability-style disruption.

Executive priority

Treat this as a low-priority kernel maintenance item unless your organization relies on mac80211-hwsim for testing at scale. It does not currently justify emergency response based on the supplied evidence, but fixed kernels should be adopted through normal patch cycles.

Technical view

The vulnerable logic rearmed an hrtimer to deadlines that could already be in the past after delayed execution, especially under vCPU scheduling. The resolved change uses hrtimer_forward_now() so the next beacon timer resumes at the next interval after current time instead of replaying missed intervals.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using or testing mac80211-hwsim, a simulated Wi-Fi environment. General production Linux hosts are less likely to be exposed unless this driver is present, enabled, and exercised. Exact downstream distribution status requires vendor kernel advisory checks.

Exploitation context

The sources cite syzbot-style reporting and vCPU scheduling delays, not public exploitation. KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The practical concern is local or test-environment availability impact from timer-induced stalls.

Researcher notes

The record lacks CVSS, CWE, and detailed exploitability analysis. The root cause is timer catch-up behavior after late hrtimer firing in a simulation driver. Analysis should focus on availability, reachable configurations, and whether downstream kernels include the stable commits.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced Linux stable fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before relying on version numbers alone.
  • Prioritize systems that load or exercise mac80211-hwsim in CI, labs, or virtualized testing.
  • Remove or disable unused mac80211-hwsim functionality only according to vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernels and confirm whether the stable fix commits are present or backported.
  • Check whether mac80211-hwsim is built, loadable, loaded, or used in test workflows.
  • Review affected virtualized test systems for kernel stalls during simulated Wi-Fi beacon handling.
  • Confirm remediation through vendor package metadata or kernel changelog evidence.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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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CVE-2021-47396 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
5Source 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

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux01e59e467ecf976c782eecd4dc99644802cc60e2, 01e59e467ecf976c782eecd4dc99644802cc60e2, 01e59e467ecf976c782eecd4dc99644802cc60e2, 01e59e467ecf976c782eecd4dc99644802cc60e2unaffected
LinuxLinux3.9, 0, 5.4.151, 5.10.71, 5.14.10, 5.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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