# CVE-2021-45941: Memory corruption in n/a

> A heap-based buffer overflow in libbpf allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted BPF objects.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** BIT-bpftool-2021-45941, DEBIAN-CVE-2021-45941, GHSA-mjhv-hh5f-w838

## What is CVE-2021-45941?

CVE-2021-45941 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 31 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

libbpf 0.6.0 and 0.6.1 has a heap-based buffer overflow (8 bytes) in __bpf_object__open (called from bpf_object__open_mem and bpf-object-fuzzer.c).

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-45941?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including bpftool. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `bpftool` | Bitnami | From 0.6.0 to 0.6.0 | None |

Products: Libbpf Project Libbpf.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-45941?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2021-45941 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45941 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-45940](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45940/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2025-29481](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-29481/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 6.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-45941 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-45941 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 31 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45941 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- bpftool (Bitnami): affected from 0.6.0 up to 0.6.0; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45941/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45941/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-45941
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-45941
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-45941

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45941/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.