CVE-2021-47304

tcp: fix tcp_init_transfer() to not reset icsk_ca_initialized

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: May 21, 2024 at 02:35 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:17 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: fix tcp_init_transfer() to not reset icsk_ca_initialized This commit fixes a bug (found by syzkaller) that could cause spurious double-initializations for congestion control modules, which could cause memory leaks or other problems for congestion control modules (like CDG) that allocate memory in their init functions. The buggy scenario constructed by syzkaller was something like: (1) create a TCP socket (2) initiate a TFO connect via sendto() (3) while socket is in TCP_SYN_SENT, call setsockopt(TCP_CONGESTION), which calls: tcp_set_congestion_control() -> tcp_reinit_congestion_control() -> tcp_init_congestion_control() (4) receive ACK, connection is established, call tcp_init_transfer(), set icsk_ca_initialized=0 (without first calling cc->release()), call tcp_init_congestion_control() again. Note that in this sequence tcp_init_congestion_control() is called twice without a cc->release() call in between. Thus, for CC modules that allocate memory in their init() function, e.g, CDG, a memory leak may occur. The syzkaller tool managed to find a reproducer that triggered such a leak in CDG. The bug was introduced when that commit 8919a9b31eb4 ("tcp: Only init congestion control if not initialized already") introduced icsk_ca_initialized and set icsk_ca_initialized to 0 in tcp_init_transfer(), missing the possibility for a sequence like the one above, where a process could call setsockopt(TCP_CONGESTION) in state TCP_SYN_SENT (i.e. after the connect() or TFO open sendmsg()), which would call tcp_init_congestion_control(). It did not intend to reset any initialization that the user had already explicitly made; it just missed the possibility of that particular sequence (which syzkaller managed to find).

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

5.10 ≤ v < 5.10.535.10 ≤ v < 5.13.55.10 ≤ v < 5.145.11 ≤ v < 5.13.55.14 rc18919a9b31eb4fb4c0a93e5fb350a626924302aa6
Vendor states this is fixed in ad4ba3404931745a5977ad12db4f0c34080e52f7 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in be5d1b61a2ad28c7e57fe8bfa277373e8ecffcdc (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in fe77b85828ca9ddc42977b79de9e40d18545b4fe (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.53 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.13.5 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.14 (unaffected)

References (3)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad4ba3404931745a5977ad12db4f0c34080e52f7
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be5d1b61a2ad28c7e57fe8bfa277373e8ecffcdc
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fe77b85828ca9ddc42977b79de9e40d18545b4fe

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-415

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