# CVE-2021-47642: video: fbdev: nvidiafb: Use strscpy() to prevent buffer overflow

> A potential buffer overflow in the nvidiafb driver could allow memory corruption, though the issue was largely theoretical due to static scope.

- **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:** 26 Feb 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-47642, GHSA-c3h6-p6wc-j6mg, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-47642

## What is CVE-2021-47642?

CVE-2021-47642 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Feb 2025. 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:

video: fbdev: nvidiafb: Use strscpy() to prevent buffer overflow

Coverity complains of a possible buffer overflow. However,
given the 'static' scope of nvidia_setup_i2c_bus() it looks
like that can't happen after examiniing the call sites.

CID 19036 (#1 of 1): Copy into fixed size buffer (STRING_OVERFLOW)
1. fixed_size_dest: You might overrun the 48-character fixed-size string
  chan->adapter.name by copying name without checking the length.
2. parameter_as_source: Note: This defect has an elevated risk because the
  source argument is a parameter of the current function.
 89        strcpy(chan->adapter.name, name);

Fix this warning by using strscpy() which will silence the warning and
prevent any future buffer overflows should the names used to identify the
channel become much longer.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-47642?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-47642?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-47642 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47642 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-2021-47642 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-47642 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Feb 2025. 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-2021-47642 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-2021-47642/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47642/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-47642
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-47642
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-47642

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47642/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.