# CVE-2021-47162: tipc: skb_linearize the head skb when reassembling msgs

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel TIPC module allows attackers to cause crashes or potentially execute code via crafted network packets.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Mar 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-47162, GHSA-86fr-x2qv-cxp5, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-47162

## What is CVE-2021-47162?

CVE-2021-47162 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Mar 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tipc: skb_linearize the head skb when reassembling msgs

It's not a good idea to append the frag skb to a skb's frag_list if
the frag_list already has skbs from elsewhere, such as this skb was
created by pskb_copy() where the frag_list was cloned (all the skbs
in it were skb_get'ed) and shared by multiple skbs.

However, the new appended frag skb should have been only seen by the
current skb. Otherwise, it will cause use after free crashes as this
appended frag skb are seen by multiple skbs but it only got skb_get
called once.

The same thing happens with a skb updated by pskb_may_pull() with a
skb_cloned skb. Li Shuang has reported quite a few crashes caused
by this when doing testing over macvlan devices:

  [] kernel BUG at net/core/skbuff.c:1970!
  [] Call Trace:
  []  skb_clone+0x4d/0xb0
  []  macvlan_broadcast+0xd8/0x160 [macvlan]
  []  macvlan_process_broadcast+0x148/0x150 [macvlan]
  []  process_one_work+0x1a7/0x360
  []  worker_thread+0x30/0x390

  [] kernel BUG at mm/usercopy.c:102!
  [] Call Trace:
  []  __check_heap_object+0xd3/0x100
  []  __check_object_size+0xff/0x16b
  []  simple_copy_to_iter+0x1c/0x30
  []  __skb_datagram_iter+0x7d/0x310
  []  __skb_datagram_iter+0x2a5/0x310
  []  skb_copy_datagram_iter+0x3b/0x90
  []  tipc_recvmsg+0x14a/0x3a0 [tipc]
  []  ____sys_recvmsg+0x91/0x150
  []  ___sys_recvmsg+0x7b/0xc0

  [] kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:305!
  [] Call Trace:
  []  <IRQ>
  []  kmem_cache_free+0x3ff/0x400
  []  __netif_receive_skb_core+0x12c/0xc40
  []  ? kmem_cache_alloc+0x12e/0x270
  []  netif_receive_skb_internal+0x3d/0xb0
  []  ? get_rx_page_info+0x8e/0xa0 [be2net]
  []  be_poll+0x6ef/0xd00 [be2net]
  []  ? irq_exit+0x4f/0x100
  []  net_rx_action+0x149/0x3b0

  ...

This patch is to fix it by linearizing the head skb if it has frag_list
set in tipc_buf_append(). Note that we choose to do this before calling
skb_unshare(), as __skb_linearize() will avoid skb_copy(). Also, we can
not just drop the frag_list either as the early time.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-47162?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-47162?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-47162 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47162 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-47162 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-47162 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Mar 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47162 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2021-47162/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47162/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-47162
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-47162
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-47162

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47162/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.