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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47442: NFC: digital: fix possible memory leak in digital_in_send_sdd_req()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: NFC: digital: fix possible memory leak in digital_in_send_sdd_req() 'skb' is allocated in digital_in_send_sdd_req(), but not free when digital_in_send_cmd() failed, which will cause memory leak. Fix it by freeing 'skb' if digital_in_send_cmd() return failed.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel NFC memory leak. When an NFC digital request fails, allocated memory may not be released. The business risk appears limited unless affected systems use NFC functionality, but kernel updates should still be tracked through normal patch management.

Executive priority

Handle through routine kernel patching unless NFC-enabled systems are mission-critical or broadly user-accessible. There is no source-backed evidence of active exploitation, but unresolved kernel memory leaks can still affect reliability.

Technical view

The flaw is in digital_in_send_sdd_req() in the Linux kernel NFC digital code. An skb allocation is not freed if digital_in_send_cmd() fails, creating a possible memory leak. The CVE record cites multiple stable kernel commits as fixes.

Likely exposure

Most exposure is likely on Linux systems with affected kernel versions and NFC digital support present or enabled. Servers without NFC hardware or kernel NFC usage are less likely to be practically exposed, but version and configuration checks are still needed.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked in KEV. The described impact is a memory leak on an error path, not code execution or privilege escalation based on the available evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. The vulnerability is tied to skb lifetime handling after digital_in_send_cmd() failure in NFC digital code. No CVSS, CWE, exploit status, or distribution-specific fixed package data is provided.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable NFC fix.
  • Use your Linux distribution advisory for exact fixed package versions.
  • Prioritize systems where NFC support is present, enabled, or exposed to users.
  • Disable unused NFC functionality where operationally acceptable.
  • Monitor vendor kernel advisories for additional backports or severity updates.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected assets.
  • Check whether NFC kernel modules or NFC hardware are present.
  • Confirm installed kernel includes the relevant stable fix or vendor backport.
  • Review distribution security notices for CVE-2021-47442 coverage.
  • Validate patch deployment through normal endpoint or server compliance reporting.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

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-2021-47442 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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94c, 2c66daecc4092e6049673c281b2e6f0d5e59a94cunaffected
LinuxLinux3.13, 0, 4.4.290, 4.9.288, 4.14.252, 4.19.213, 5.4.155, 5.10.75, 5.14.14, 5.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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