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CVE-2021-38166

kernel: integer overflow and out-of-bounds write in kernel/bpf/hashtab.c when many elements are placed in a single bucket

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Severity

Moderate

Red Hat Product Security

6.4

CVSS 3.1

Review impact separately from score.

Published · August 7, 2021

Updated · August 6, 2026

Description

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel. An integer overflow can allow an out-of-bounds write when many elements are placed in a hash's bucket. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

CVSS score applicability

The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.

Mitigation

The default Red Hat Enterprise Linux kernel setting prevents unprivileged users from being able to use eBPF via the kernel.unprivileged_bpf_disabled sysctl. As such, exploiting this issue would require a privileged user with CAP_SYS_ADMIN or root.

For the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 the eBPF for unprivileged users is always disabled. For the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 to confirm the current state, inspect the sysctl with the command:

cat /proc/sys/kernel/unprivileged_bpf_disabled

The setting of 1 (default) would mean that unprivileged users cannot use eBPF. Otherwise, to disable eBPF for unprivileged users, add:

kernel.unprivileged_bpf_disabled = 1

To the file "/etc/sysctl.d/disable-ebpf.conf"

Then running the following command as root:

sudo sysctl --system

CVSS / CWE

CVSS 3.1 · 6.4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds Write