# CVE-2021-47391: RDMA/cma: Ensure rdma_addr_cancel() happens before issuing more requests

> A race condition in the Linux kernel RDMA subsystem allows a use-after-free, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 May 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-47391, GHSA-xwrf-hhx9-vmhv, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-47391

## What is CVE-2021-47391?

CVE-2021-47391 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:

RDMA/cma: Ensure rdma_addr_cancel() happens before issuing more requests

The FSM can run in a circle allowing rdma_resolve_ip() to be called twice
on the same id_priv. While this cannot happen without going through the
work, it violates the invariant that the same address resolution
background request cannot be active twice.

       CPU 1                                  CPU 2

rdma_resolve_addr():
  RDMA_CM_IDLE -> RDMA_CM_ADDR_QUERY
  rdma_resolve_ip(addr_handler)  #1

			 process_one_req(): for #1
                          addr_handler():
                            RDMA_CM_ADDR_QUERY -> RDMA_CM_ADDR_BOUND
                            mutex_unlock(&id_priv->handler_mutex);
                            [.. handler still running ..]

rdma_resolve_addr():
  RDMA_CM_ADDR_BOUND -> RDMA_CM_ADDR_QUERY
  rdma_resolve_ip(addr_handler)
    !! two requests are now on the req_list

rdma_destroy_id():
 destroy_id_handler_unlock():
  _destroy_id():
   cma_cancel_operation():
    rdma_addr_cancel()

                          // process_one_req() self removes it
		          spin_lock_bh(&lock);
                           cancel_delayed_work(&req->work);
	                   if (!list_empty(&req->list)) == true

      ! rdma_addr_cancel() returns after process_on_req #1 is done

   kfree(id_priv)

			 process_one_req(): for #2
                          addr_handler():
	                    mutex_lock(&id_priv->handler_mutex);
                            !! Use after free on id_priv

rdma_addr_cancel() expects there to be one req on the list and only
cancels the first one. The self-removal behavior of the work only happens
after the handler has returned. This yields a situations where the
req_list can have two reqs for the same "handle" but rdma_addr_cancel()
only cancels the first one.

The second req remains active beyond rdma_destroy_id() and will
use-after-free id_priv once it inevitably triggers.

Fix this by remembering if the id_priv has called rdma_resolve_ip() and
always cancel before calling it again. This ensures the req_list never
gets more than one item in it and doesn't cost anything in the normal flow
that never uses this strange error path.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-47391?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-47391?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-47391 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47391 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-2021-47391 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-47391 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47391 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-2021-47391/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47391/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-47391
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-47391
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-47391

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47391/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.