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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47473: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix a memory leak in an error path of qla2x00_process_els()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix a memory leak in an error path of qla2x00_process_els() Commit 8c0eb596baa5 ("[SCSI] qla2xxx: Fix a memory leak in an error path of qla2x00_process_els()"), intended to change: bsg_job->request->msgcode == FC_BSG_HST_ELS_NOLOGIN bsg_job->request->msgcode != FC_BSG_RPT_ELS but changed it to: bsg_job->request->msgcode == FC_BSG_RPT_ELS instead. Change the == to a != to avoid leaking the fcport structure or freeing unallocated memory.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel driver bug in the qla2xxx SCSI area. A prior fix used the wrong comparison, which can cause a structure to leak memory or attempt to free memory that was not allocated. Business urgency depends on whether affected Linux kernels and this driver path exist in production.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted kernel maintenance issue, not an emergency, unless affected Linux storage hosts use qla2xxx. Schedule remediation through normal kernel patch cycles and prioritize systems supporting critical storage operations.

Technical view

CVE-2021-47473 corrects qla2x00_process_els() error-path logic. The intended condition was msgcode != FC_BSG_RPT_ELS, but the prior commit used msgcode == FC_BSG_RPT_ELS. The fix changes the comparison to avoid leaking fcport or freeing unallocated memory.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions where the qla2xxx SCSI driver code path is present and reachable. The source bundle lists affected Linux versions including 3.11, 5.10.76, 5.14.15, and 5.15, but does not provide distribution package mappings.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is supported by the provided sources. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the source bundle, and no exploit status, attacker prerequisites, CVSS score, or CWE classification is provided.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: the CVE describes a specific incorrect comparison in qla2x00_process_els(). The operational impact is memory leak or freeing unallocated memory. The provided sources do not establish exploitability, privilege requirements, remote reachability, or affected distribution package ranges.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Linux hosts for affected kernel versions and qla2xxx driver usage.
  • Apply vendor or stable kernel updates containing the referenced fixes.
  • Prioritize systems where qla2xxx SCSI paths are operational.
  • Monitor Linux distribution advisories for backported fixed kernel packages.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm the running kernel includes one of the referenced stable commits or equivalent backport.
  • Check package changelogs for CVE-2021-47473 or qla2xxx fix references.
  • Verify whether qla2xxx is loaded or needed on each host.
  • Retest relevant storage workflows after kernel updates.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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.

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CVE-2021-47473 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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux8c0eb596baa51f2b43949c698c644727ef17805c, 8c0eb596baa51f2b43949c698c644727ef17805c, 8c0eb596baa51f2b43949c698c644727ef17805cunaffected
LinuxLinux3.11, 0, 5.10.76, 5.14.15, 5.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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