HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-31440
HIGH

CVE-2021-31440

CWE-682Published: May 21, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.0
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Linux Kernel 5.11.15. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of eBPF programs. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied eBPF programs prior to executing them. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the kernel. Was ZDI-CAN-13661.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-31440 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.0.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Linux1 product(s)
linux kernel
netapp17 product(s)
solidfire baseboard management controller firmwaresolidfire baseboard management controllercloud backuph500s firmwareh500sh700s firmwareh700sh300e firmwareh300eh500e firmwareh500eh700e firmware+5
Source: NVD CPE · 18 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=10bf4e83167cc68595b85fd73bb91e8f2c086e36
PATCHhttps://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=10bf4e83167cc68595b85fd73bb91e8f2c086e36
ADVISORYhttps://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210706-0003/
ADVISORYhttps://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-503/
ADVISORYhttps://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210706-0003/
ADVISORYhttps://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-503/

All References (6)

→
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=10bf4e83167cc68595b85fd73bb91e8f2c086e36Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210706-0003/Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-503/Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=10bf4e83167cc68595b85fd73bb91e8f2c086e36Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210706-0003/Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-503/Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2021-31440
CVSS Score7.0 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-682
CISA KEVNo
Affected2 vendor(s)
PublishedMay 21, 2021

Related CVEs (CWE-682)

CVE-2021-44847
9.8
CVE-2020-0221
9.8
CVE-2026-1229
9.8
CVE-2024-36736
9.8
CVE-2018-8319
9.8
CVE-2022-30600
9.8

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2021-31440 in threat intel feeds
  • →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.
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