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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47443: NFC: digital: fix possible memory leak in digital_tg_listen_mdaa()

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

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel NFC memory leak. A local low-privileged user could trigger failed NFC digital command handling and consume kernel memory, creating an availability risk. The source bundle does not indicate data theft, privilege escalation, or remote exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as routine but real availability risk. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for shared endpoints, kiosks, embedded systems, or systems exposing NFC functionality.

Technical view

In digital_tg_listen_mdaa(), params is allocated but was not freed when digital_send_cmd() failed. The resolved issue frees params on that failure path. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5 with local attack, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant on Linux systems running affected kernels with NFC digital support present or enabled. Practical exposure depends on distribution backports and kernel configuration, which the source bundle does not fully enumerate.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data. No cited source reports active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privilege exploitation with availability impact only.

Researcher notes

The issue is a failure-path memory leak, not a memory corruption primitive based on supplied evidence. The bundle gives stable commit references but limited downstream distribution status, so confirm exact fixed package versions per vendor.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates that include the referenced stable fixes.
  • Confirm distribution advisories, because vendors may backport the fix.
  • Disable NFC functionality where it is not operationally required.
  • Prioritize shared or multi-user Linux systems with NFC hardware or modules.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected assets.
  • Check whether NFC digital support is enabled, loaded, or packaged.
  • Confirm the kernel includes one of the referenced stable fix commits.
  • Validate remediation through vendor package metadata or kernel changelogs.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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-2021-47443 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-47443Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8, 1c7a4c24fbfd99442cc6e14dc80fcb00f118e8b8unaffected
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

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