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Fencer Vulns
medium 4.4

CVE-2021-47185 json

tty: tty_buffer: Fix the softlockup issue in flush_to_ldisc

published 2024-04-10 2 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2021-33833

cvss
4.4
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Not listed
not in CISA's catalog
epss
0.2%
EPSS 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 7%
public exploits
0
none known

Summary

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

tty: tty_buffer: Fix the softlockup issue in flush_to_ldisc

When running ltp testcase(ltp/testcases/kernel/pty/pty04.c) with arm64, there is a soft lockup, which look like this one:

Workqueue: events_unbound flush_to_ldisc Call trace: dump_backtrace+0x0/0x1ec show_stack+0x24/0x30 dump_stack+0xd0/0x128 panic+0x15c/0x374 watchdog_timer_fn+0x2b8/0x304 __run_hrtimer+0x88/0x2c0 __hrtimer_run_queues+0xa4/0x120 hrtimer_interrupt+0xfc/0x270 arch_timer_handler_phys+0x40/0x50 handle_percpu_devid_irq+0x94/0x220 __handle_domain_irq+0x88/0xf0 gic_handle_irq+0x84/0xfc el1_irq+0xc8/0x180 slip_unesc+0x80/0x214 [slip] tty_ldisc_receive_buf+0x64/0x80 tty_port_default_receive_buf+0x50/0x90 flush_to_ldisc+0xbc/0x110 process_one_work+0x1d4/0x4b0 worker_thread+0x180/0x430 kthread+0x11c/0x120

In the testcase pty04, The first process call the write syscall to send data to the pty master. At the same time, the workqueue will do the flush_to_ldisc to pop data in a loop until there is no more data left. When the sender and workqueue running in different core, the sender sends data fastly in full time which will result in workqueue doing work in loop for a long time and occuring softlockup in flush_to_ldisc with kernel configured without preempt. So I add need_resched check and cond_resched in the flush_to_ldisc loop to avoid it.

Patch / fix

  • Linux Linux 4.4.293, 4.9.291, 4.14.256, 4.19.218, 5.4.162, 5.10.82, 5.15.5, 5.16
  • linux Debian 14, Debian 13, Debian 12 5.15.5-1

debian advisories DEBIAN-CVE-2021-47185

  • linux Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 4.15.0-167.175
  • linux Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.4.0-97.110
  • linux-aws Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 4.15.0-1119.127
  • linux-aws Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.4.0-1064.67
  • linux-gcp Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.4.0-1063.67
  • linux-ibm Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.4.0-1013.14
  • linux-kvm Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 4.15.0-1106.108
  • linux-kvm Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.4.0-1054.56

ubuntu advisories UBUNTU-CVE-2021-47185

Ubuntu security data © Canonical Ltd., from https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices via OSV; changed: normalised to fixed package versions per release. CC BY-SA 4.0

  • kernel RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • rv RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • perf RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • rtla RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • bpftool RHEL 9 7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • libperf RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • kernel-rt RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
  • kernel-64k RHEL 9 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5

red hat advisories RHSA-2025:11810RHSA-2024:9315RHSA-2024:3627RHSA-2024:3618

  • kernel-syms SLES for SAP 12 SP5, SLES 12 SP5 4.12.14-122.216.1
  • kernel-source SLES for SAP 12 SP5, SLES 12 SP5 4.12.14-122.216.1
  • kernel-default SLES for SAP 12 SP5, SLES 12 SP5, SLE Workstation Extension 12 SP5 +2 more 4.12.14-122.216.1
  • kernel-obs-build SLE Software Development Kit 12 SP5 4.12.14-122.216.1
  • kernel-rt SLE Micro 5.5, Real Time Module 15 SP5, openSUSE Leap 15.5 5.14.21-150500.13.52.1
  • kernel-syms-rt Real Time Module 15 SP5, openSUSE Leap 15.5 5.14.21-150500.13.52.1
  • kernel-rt_debug Real Time Module 15 SP5, openSUSE Leap 15.5 5.14.21-150500.13.52.1
  • kernel-source-rt SLE Micro 5.5, Real Time Module 15 SP5, openSUSE Leap 15.5 5.14.21-150500.13.52.1

suse advisories SUSE-SU-2024:1870-1SUSE-SU-2024:1663-1SUSE-SU-2024:1659-1SUSE-SU-2024:1650-1SUSE-SU-2024:1647-1SUSE-SU-2024:1646-1

  • kernel AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • perf AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • bpftool AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • kernel-core AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • kernel-tools AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • python3-perf AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • kernel-modules AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
  • kernel-zfcpdump AlmaLinux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10

almalinux advisories ALSA-2024:3618ALSA-2024:3627

  • kernel-rt Rocky Linux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10
  • kernel Rocky Linux 8 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10

rocky linux advisories RLSA-2024:3627RLSA-2024:3618

Vendor advisories

What the vendors themselves say about their products: affected, fixed or not affected, and what to do.

red hat product security vex CVE-2021-47185 updated cvss 4.4

kernel: tty: tty_buffer: Fix the softlockup issue in flush_to_ldisc

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 perf, kernel, bpftool, kernel-rt, python-perf, kernel-kdump, +8 more
    affected: no fix planned “Out of support scope”
  • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) libperf 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:9315
  • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) libperf 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:11810
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) rv 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, perf 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, rtla 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-devel-matched 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-devel-matched 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-debug-devel-matched 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:9315
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) rv 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, perf 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, rtla 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-devel-matched 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-matched 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-debug-devel-matched 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:11810
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) perf 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, kernel 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, bpftool 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, kernel-core 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, kernel-tools 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, python3-perf 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, +15 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:3618
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) bpftool 7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-core 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-tools 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, python3-perf 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, +29 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:9315
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) bpftool 7.3.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-64k 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-core 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-tools 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, python3-perf 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, +28 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:11810
show 8 more
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 4.18.0-553.5.1.el8_10
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:3618
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-kvm 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-core 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-modules 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-core 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:3627
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-modules-core 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-modules 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:9315
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-modules-core 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-modules 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:11810
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-kvm 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:9315
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-kvm 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-427.79.1.el9_4, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:11810
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-core 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-modules 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-core 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-modules 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, kernel-rt-modules-extra 4.18.0-553.5.1.rt7.346.el8_10, +2 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2024:3627
  • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-cross-headers 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 perf, kernel, python-perf, kernel-kdump, kernel-firmware, kernel-bootwrapper, +1 more Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-headers 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
    not affected: vulnerable code not present

Red Hat CSAF VEX © Red Hat, Inc., from https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/; changed: reduced to product statuses and remediations. CC BY 4.0 · csaf

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial
Assessed
2 y ago

Exploit prediction

0.18% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 7% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CISA ADP 3.1 4.4 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CNA 3.1 4.4 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

  • Linux Linux

Classification

Weakness
Technology feeds

References

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.