CVE-2021-28971: Null Pointer Dereference

Published Mar 22, 2021
·
Updated

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel. On some Haswell CPUs, userspace applications (such as perf-fuzzer) can cause a system crash because the PEBS status in a PEBS record is mishandled.

Other sources

In intelpmudrainpebsnhm in arch/x86/events/intel/ds.c in the Linux kernel on some Haswell CPUs, userspace applications using performance counters can cause a system crash because the PEBS status in a PEBS record is mishandled and not reset correctly.

Upstream patch:

https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=d88d05a9e0b6d9356e97129d4ff9942d765f46ea

Red Hat

In intelpmudrainpebsnhm in arch/x86/events/intel/ds.c in the Linux kernel through 5.11.8 on some Haswell CPUs, userspace applications (such as perf-fuzzer) can cause a system crash because the PEBS status in a PEBS record is mishandled, aka CID-d88d05a9e0b6.

Affected Software

18 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/kernel-rt<0:4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8
0:4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8
redhat/kernel<0:4.18.0-348.el8
0:4.18.0-348.el8
Linux Linux kernel<=5.11.8
Fedoraproject Fedora=32
Fedoraproject Fedora=33
Fedoraproject Fedora=34
Debian Debian Linux=9.0
NetApp Cloud Backup
NetApp Solidfire Baseboard Management Controller Firmware
All of the following
NetApp Aff A250 Firmware
NetApp Aff A250
All of the following
NetApp Aff 500f Firmware
NetApp Aff 500f
NetApp Aff A250 Firmware
NetApp Aff A250
NetApp Aff 500f Firmware
NetApp Aff 500f
debian/linux
5.10.223-15.10.234-16.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.25-16.12.27-1

Remediation

Information

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options does not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

Event History

Mar 22, 2021
CVE Published
12:00 AM
CVE Published
via MITRE·04:53 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·04:53 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·07:02 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Jan 11, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·11:56 PM
Description
Apr 28, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·04:26 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
May 6, 2025
Data Sourced
via Debian·04:29 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-28971?

CVE-2021-28971 is classified as a high severity vulnerability due to its potential to cause system crashes on vulnerable systems.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-28971?

To fix CVE-2021-28971, update your Linux kernel to at least version 0:4.18.0-348.rt7.130.el8 or a later patched version.

3

Which systems are affected by CVE-2021-28971?

CVE-2021-28971 affects specific Linux kernel versions running on Haswell CPUs.

4

Can CVE-2021-28971 lead to data loss?

Yes, if exploited, CVE-2021-28971 can potentially lead to data loss due to system crashes.

5

Is there a known exploit for CVE-2021-28971?

As of now, there are no public exploits specifically targeting CVE-2021-28971 reported.

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