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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47529: iwlwifi: Fix memory leaks in error handling path

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: iwlwifi: Fix memory leaks in error handling path Should an error occur (invalid TLV len or memory allocation failure), the memory already allocated in 'reduce_power_data' should be freed before returning, otherwise it is leaking.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue is a memory leak in the Intel iwlwifi wireless driver error path. When malformed TLV data or an allocation failure is hit, allocated memory may not be released. The available sources do not show active exploitation or a CVSS score.

Executive priority

Treat this as routine kernel hygiene unless local evidence shows instability on affected wireless-enabled Linux systems. It does not currently justify emergency response based on the supplied sources, but it should be included in normal kernel patch cycles.

Technical view

The resolved bug is in iwlwifi handling of reduce_power_data. On invalid TLV length or memory allocation failure, previously allocated reduce_power_data memory was not freed before return. The upstream stable commits correct that cleanup path.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the iwlwifi driver path present. The source bundle lists Linux 5.14 through before 5.15.7 and before 5.16 as affected, but does not provide distribution-specific package mapping.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the provided sources do not report public exploitation. The issue is a resource leak in driver error handling, so the most plausible impact from the evidence is stability or availability degradation rather than direct code execution.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: the CVE description and commits identify a memory leak fix, but no CVSS, CWE, distribution advisories, exploit reports, or detailed threat model are provided. Validate impact against the exact kernel tree and downstream backports before assigning local severity.

Mitigation direction

  • Review vendor kernel advisories for fixed packages containing the referenced stable commits.
  • Prioritize updates for systems using Intel wireless hardware and affected kernel branches.
  • If immediate patching is delayed, monitor affected hosts for unusual kernel memory pressure.
  • Avoid claiming remediation complete until the running kernel version is verified.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts for kernel versions in the affected range.
  • Confirm whether iwlwifi is present or used on exposed endpoints.
  • Check distribution changelogs for the two referenced upstream fixes.
  • Verify patched systems boot into the updated kernel, not only install it.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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-2021-47529 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
3Source 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
LinuxLinux9dad325f9d57508b154f0bebbc341a8528e5729c, 9dad325f9d57508b154f0bebbc341a8528e5729cunaffected
LinuxLinux5.14, 0, 5.15.7, 5.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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