Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel flaw affects the mlxsw thermal fan handling path. A local user with the needed write access could request an invalid cooling state, causing out-of-bounds memory access when thermal statistics are enabled. Business risk is highest for Linux systems using mlxsw-supported switching hardware or appliances.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted high-priority kernel update for affected Linux switching or network appliance environments. It is not described as internet-exploitable, but kernel memory corruption with local low-privilege access can materially affect confidentiality and availability.
Technical view
The mlxsw thermal driver accepted cooling states above its max_state. With CONFIG_THERMAL_STATISTICS=y, the kernel thermal statistics table could be indexed out of bounds, producing KASAN-detected slab out-of-bounds access. The resolved fix rejects cooling states exceeding the driver-supported maximum.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to affected Linux kernel versions using the mlxsw thermal driver, especially systems with mlxsw fan cooling devices and thermal statistics enabled. The CVSS vector indicates local access and low privileges are required; remote-only exposure is not supported by the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. Public evidence describes a local kernel memory safety issue triggered through invalid cooling state handling, not a remote attack path. Impact ratings include high confidentiality and availability impact.
Researcher notes
The key exposure condition is mlxsw cooling state validation combined with thermal statistics indexing. Evidence supports CWE-787 out-of-bounds access and a driver-side bounds-check fix. The bundle does not provide proof of exploitation, exploit maturity, or distro-specific fixed versions.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel stable fixes or distribution updates containing the referenced mlxsw thermal patch.
- Prioritize systems running affected Linux kernels with mlxsw-supported hardware or appliances.
- Check vendor or distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- If patching is delayed, review vendor guidance for temporary operational mitigations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions against affected and fixed vendor package data.
- Identify systems using the mlxsw thermal driver or mlxsw fan cooling devices.
- Check whether CONFIG_THERMAL_STATISTICS is enabled on relevant kernels.
- Confirm updated kernels include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
- Monitor kernel logs for thermal or KASAN out-of-bounds indicators where available.
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.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-47441 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
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
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H1.85.5CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
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/ae0993739e14a102d506aa09e11b0065f3144f10CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e59d839743b50cb1d3f42a786bea48cc5621d254CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df8e58716afb3bee2b59de66b1ba1033f2e26303CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/332fdf951df8b870e3da86b122ae304e2aabe88cCVE 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.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.