Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-47562 is a Linux kernel bug in the ice network driver. Under a specific XDP and queue reconfiguration condition, the kernel can hit a NULL pointer dereference and crash. The source describes a stability and availability issue, not data theft or remote code execution.
Executive priority
Prioritize patching on high-availability Linux hosts using ice NICs and XDP. This is mainly an availability risk: a crash during network reconfiguration can disrupt services. It should not outrank remotely exploitable or actively exploited issues without matching exposure.
Technical view
The ice driver allocated vsi->txq_map based on doubled alloc_txq, but XDP rings were based on Rx queue count. When Rx and Tx queue counts differed and ethtool changed channels with XDP rings configured, cleanup/rebuild paths could dereference invalid state and trigger a kernel oops.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using the ice driver with XDP configured, especially where administrators or automation change NIC channel counts. The provided affected data names Linux kernel versions including 5.5, 5.10.83, 5.15.6, and 5.16, but distro backports require vendor verification.
Exploitation context
The source shows a crash path triggered through ethtool channel changes, not an internet-facing attack. KEV is false and no cited source reports active exploitation. Practical exploitation appears dependent on local administrative network configuration capability and a specific driver/XDP queue state.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the kernel fix description and CVE metadata. The root cause is incorrect txq_map sizing relative to possible CPU/XDP ring accounting. No CVSS, CWE, public exploit status, or vendor-specific package matrix is provided in the source bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a kernel or distro package containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Confirm remediation status through your Linux distribution vendor advisory.
- Avoid ice channel reconfiguration while XDP rings are configured until patched.
- Consider aligning Rx and Tx queue counts as an interim operational control.
Validation and detection
- Inventory hosts loading the Linux ice driver.
- Check running kernel versions against vendor fixed packages or backported stable commits.
- Identify systems using XDP with ice interfaces.
- Review kernel logs for oops traces involving ice_vsi_rebuild or ice_set_channels.
- Verify network automation does not change channels on unpatched affected hosts.
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.
CVE-2021-47562 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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
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/1eb5395add786613c7c5579d3947aa0b8f0ec241CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/992ba40a67638dfe2772b84dfc8168dc328d5c4cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/792b2086584f25d84081a526beee80d103c2a913CVE 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.