Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel memory leak in the NTFS3 filesystem driver. A local, low-privileged user could potentially drive an error path that leaks kernel memory and causes a denial of service. The sources do not show data theft, integrity impact, remote attack, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a routine-to-priority kernel maintenance item, not an emergency remote compromise. Patch affected Linux fleets through normal kernel update channels, with higher priority for shared systems with untrusted local users.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-401 in fs/ntfs3 log_replay(). One error path returned directly instead of using shared cleanup, leaving resources such as log, ra, and log->one_page_buf allocated. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernels with NTFS3 filesystem support. The CVE data lists Linux kernel versions around 5.15 through 5.18/5.19, but exact exposure depends on distro backports and kernel packaging.
Exploitation context
The CVE record does not report known exploitation and it is not listed as KEV. The CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges is required. Evidence supports availability risk, not confidentiality or integrity compromise.
Researcher notes
The available evidence is limited to the CVE description, CVSS vector, CWE classification, and kernel stable commit references. The vulnerability is an error-handling cleanup bug in ntfs3 log replay; no public exploit status or detailed triggering conditions are provided in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates that include the referenced upstream stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes matching your deployed kernel builds.
- Prioritize systems where untrusted local users can interact with NTFS3-mounted filesystems.
- If patching is delayed, reduce unnecessary NTFS3 exposure where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions and confirm whether NTFS3 support is present or used.
- Map deployed kernels to distribution advisories or the referenced stable commits.
- Review vulnerability scanner findings for CVE-2021-47660 against actual kernel package versions.
- Monitor local systems for abnormal memory pressure or availability issues until patched.
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.
CWE-401: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-47660 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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/d8be98ab88250dc12a98efdb703792a537b0eac3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bc4a1d384a04c6dba9312e1421a9f9f7c03339a4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2c97519ed6b4239594c58ddacf3d0d576cf070ccCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e589f9b7078e1c0191613cd736f598e81d2390deCVE 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.
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.