CVE-2021-47254 gfs2: Fix use-after-free in gfs2_glock_shrink_scan

What is CVE-2021-47254?

CVE-2021-47254 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 May 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

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

gfs2: Fix use-after-free in gfs2_glock_shrink_scan

The GLF_LRU flag is checked under lru_lock in gfs2_glock_remove_from_lru() to remove the glock from the lru list in __gfs2_glock_put().

On the shrink scan path, the same flag is cleared under lru_lock but because of cond_resched_lock(&lru_lock) in gfs2_dispose_glock_lru(), progress on the put side can be made without deleting the glock from the lru list.

Keep GLF_LRU across the race window opened by cond_resched_lock(&lru_lock) to ensure correct behavior on both sides - clear GLF_LRU after list_del under lru_lock.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-47254?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2021-47254?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2021-47254 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47254 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2021-47254, GHSA-g3v4-6rhh-7539, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-47254.