CVE-2021-28038: Medium severity Linux Linux kernel vulnerability

Published Mar 5, 2021
·
Updated

An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 5.11.3, as used with Xen PV. A certain part of the netback driver lacks necessary treatment of errors such as failed memory allocations (as a result of changes to the handling of grant mapping errors). A host OS denial of service may occur during misbehavior of a networking frontend driver. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2021-26931.

Affected Software

94 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel>=2.6.39<4.4.260
Linux Linux kernel>=4.5.0<4.9.260
Linux Linux kernel>=4.10.0<4.14.224
Linux Linux kernel>=4.15.0<4.19.179
Linux Linux kernel>=4.20.0<5.4.103
Linux Linux kernel>=5.10.0<5.10.21
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11.0<5.11.4
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc2
Debian Debian Linux=9.0
NetApp Cloud Backup
NetApp Solidfire Baseboard Management Controller Firmware
debian/linux
5.10.223-15.10.234-16.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.25-16.12.27-1
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.4.0-1090.94
4.4.0-1090.94
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1114.127~14.04.1
4.15.0-1114.127~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial<4.4.0-208.240~14.04.1
4.4.0-208.240~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux<4.4.0-208.240
4.4.0-208.240
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.4.0-1126.140
4.4.0-1126.140
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.4.0-1091.100
4.4.0-1091.100
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.4.0-1150.161
4.4.0-1150.161
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.4.0-1154.164
4.4.0-1154.164
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe<4.15.0-1102.109~16.04.1
4.15.0-1102.109~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1114.127~16.04.1
4.15.0-1114.127~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp<4.15.0-1099.112~16.04.1
4.15.0-1099.112~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe<4.15.0-143.147~16.04.3
4.15.0-143.147~16.04.3
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1071.79~16.04.1
4.15.0-1071.79~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-fips<4.4.0-1060.66
4.4.0-1060.66
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux<4.15.0-143.147
4.15.0-143.147
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.15.0-1102.109
4.15.0-1102.109
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1048.50~18.04.1
5.4.0-1048.50~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15<4.15.0-1114.127
4.15.0-1114.127
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1047.49~18.04.1
5.4.0-1047.49~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-dell300x<4.15.0-1018.22
4.15.0-1018.22
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15<4.15.0-1099.112
4.15.0-1099.112
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1043.46~18.04.1
5.4.0-1043.46~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4<5.4.0-1043.45~18.04.1
5.4.0-1043.45~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4<5.4.0-1015.16~18.04.1
5.4.0-1015.16~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1
5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.15.0-1091.93
4.15.0-1091.93
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1071.79
4.15.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1044.47~18.04.1
5.4.0-1044.47~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1035.38~18.04.1
5.4.0-1035.38~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.15.0-1085.90
4.15.0-1085.90
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.15.0-1102.111
4.15.0-1102.111
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<4.15.0-2044.46
4.15.0-2044.46
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<4.15.0-2026.29
4.15.0-2026.29
ubuntu/linux-fips<4.15.0-1059.67
4.15.0-1059.67
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-73.82
5.4.0-73.82
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1048.50
5.4.0-1048.50
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1047.49
5.4.0-1047.49
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1043.46
5.4.0-1043.46
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.4.0-1043.45
5.4.0-1043.45
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.4.0-1015.16
5.4.0-1015.16
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8<5.8.0-55.62~20.04.1
5.8.0-55.62~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1039.40
5.4.0-1039.40
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10<5.10.0-1021.22
5.10.0-1021.22
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1045.49
5.4.0-1045.49
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1035.38
5.4.0-1035.38
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8<5.8.0-26.28~20.04.1
5.8.0-26.28~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15<5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1
5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.4.0-1069.73+fips2
5.4.0-1069.73+fips2
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1073.76+fips1
5.4.0-1073.76+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1
5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.223-1Fixed in 5.10.234-1Fixed in 6.1.129-1Fixed in 6.1.135-1Fixed in 6.12.25-1Fixed in 6.12.27-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1090.94
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1114.127~14.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-208.240~14.04.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-208.240
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1126.140
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1091.100
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1150.161
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-snapdragon to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1154.164
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1102.109~16.04.1
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1114.127~16.04.1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1099.112~16.04.1
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-143.147~16.04.3
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1071.79~16.04.1
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1060.66
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-143.147
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1102.109
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1048.50~18.04.1
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1114.127
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1047.49~18.04.1
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-dell300x to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1018.22
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1099.112
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1043.46~18.04.1
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1043.45~18.04.1
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1015.16~18.04.1
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1091.93
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1071.79
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1044.47~18.04.1
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1035.38~18.04.1
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1085.90
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-snapdragon to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1102.111
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2044.46
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2026.29
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1059.67
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-73.82
  37. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1048.50
  38. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1047.49
  39. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1043.46
  40. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1043.45
  41. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1015.16
  42. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.8.0-55.62~20.04.1
  43. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1039.40
  44. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.0-1021.22
  45. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1045.49
  46. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1035.38
  47. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.8.0-26.28~20.04.1
  48. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1
  49. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1069.73+fips2
  50. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1073.76+fips1
  51. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1

Event History

Mar 5, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·06:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-28038?

CVE-2021-28038 has been classified as a high severity vulnerability due to its potential to cause denial of service in the host operating system.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-28038?

To fix CVE-2021-28038, upgrade to the recommended patched versions of the Linux kernel including 5.10.223-1 or later.

3

Which systems are affected by CVE-2021-28038?

CVE-2021-28038 affects various versions of the Linux kernel from 2.6.39 to 5.11.3, especially those used in Xen PV environments.

4

What types of attacks can exploit CVE-2021-28038?

CVE-2021-28038 can be exploited by attackers to trigger a denial of service condition in the host OS through specific error handling in the netback driver.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2021-28038?

Currently, the recommended mitigation for CVE-2021-28038 is to apply the available updates or patches for the Linux kernel rather than relying on a workaround.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203