« Back to list

CVE-2021-4037

Status: ModifiedHigh (7.8)—

A vulnerability was found in the fs/inode.c:inode_init_owner() function logic of the LInux kernel that allows local users to create files for the XFS file-system with an unintended group ownership and with group execution and SGID permission bits set, in a scenario where a directory is SGID and belongs to a certain group and is writable by a user who is not a member of this group. This can lead to excessive permissions granted in case when they should not. This vulnerability is similar to the previous CVE-2018-13405 and adds the missed fix for the XFS.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (2)

Debian — Debian LinuxLinux — Linux Kernel

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2021-4037",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 4.4,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
          "integrityImpact": "LOW",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "LOW"
        },
        "impactScore": 2.5,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      },
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "product": "kernel",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "*",
              "lessThan": "5.4.241",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "5.5",
              "lessThan": "5.10.146",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "5.12",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
          ],
          "packageName": "kernel",
          "collectionURL": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv",
            "cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::realtime"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0:4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8",
              "lessThan": "*",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            }
          ],
          "packageName": "kernel-rt",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::crb",
            "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0:4.18.0-372.9.1.el8",
              "lessThan": "*",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            }
          ],
          "packageName": "kernel",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:8.4::nfv",
            "cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:8.4::realtime"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0:4.18.0-305.49.1.rt7.121.el8_4",
              "lessThan": "*",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            }
          ],
          "packageName": "kernel-rt",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:8.4::crb",
            "cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_eus:8.4::baseos"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0:4.18.0-305.49.1.el8_4",
              "lessThan": "*",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            }
          ],
          "packageName": "kernel",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6",
          "packageName": "kernel",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7",
          "packageName": "kernel",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7",
          "packageName": "kernel-rt",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9",
          "packageName": "kernel",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2022-08-24T16:15:09.257",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:1975",
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:1988",
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:4829",
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:4835",
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-4037",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2027239",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=01ea173e103e",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=0fa3ecd87848",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-4037",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2004810",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Permissions Required",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2027239",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=01ea173e103e",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=0fa3ecd87848",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/11/msg00001.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5257",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-284"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "NVD-CWE-Other"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "A vulnerability was found in the fs/inode.c:inode_init_owner() function logic of the LInux kernel that allows local users to create files for the XFS file-system with an unintended group ownership and with group execution and SGID permission bits set, in a scenario where a directory is SGID and belongs to a certain group and is writable by a user who is not a member of this group. This can lead to excessive permissions granted in case when they should not.  This vulnerability is similar to the previous CVE-2018-13405 and adds the missed fix for the XFS."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Se ha encontrado una vulnerabilidad en la lógica de la función fs/inode.c:inode_init_owner() del kernel de LInux que permite a usuarios locales crear archivos para el sistema de archivos XFS con una propiedad de grupo no deseada y con los bits de permiso de ejecución de grupo y SGID establecidos, en un escenario en el que un directorio es SGID y pertenece a un determinado grupo y es escribible por un usuario que no es miembro de este grupo. Esto puede conllevar a una concesión de excesivos permisos cuando no deberían concederse. Esta vulnerabilidad es similar a la anterior CVE-2018-13405 y añade la corrección que faltaba para el XFS."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-08-10T17:17:27.980",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "89EC14A5-9B15-472C-A870-D93968B329AD",
              "versionEndExcluding": "5.11"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "07B237A9-69A3-4A9C-9DA0-4E06BD37AE73"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "FA6FEEC2-9F11-4643-8827-749718254FED"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "secalert@redhat.com"
}