Linux Kernel up to 5.4.209/5.10.80/5.14.20/5.15.3 thermal of_parse_thermal_zones null pointer dereference

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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.209/5.10.80/5.14.20/5.15.3. This affects the function of_parse_thermal_zones of the component thermal. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2021-47202. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.209/5.10.80/5.14.20/5.15.3 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function of_parse_thermal_zones of the component thermal. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: thermal: Fix NULL pointer dereferences in of_thermal_ functions of_parse_thermal_zones() parses the thermal-zones node and registers a thermal_zone device for each subnode. However, if a thermal zone is consuming a thermal sensor and that thermal sensor device hasn't probed yet, an attempt to set trip_point_*_temp for that thermal zone device can cause a NULL pointer dereference. Fix it. console:/sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone87 # echo 120000 > trip_point_0_temp ... Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000020 ... Call trace: of_thermal_set_trip_temp+0x40/0xc4 trip_point_temp_store+0xc0/0x1dc dev_attr_store+0x38/0x88 sysfs_kf_write+0x64/0xc0 kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x108/0x1d0 vfs_write+0x2f4/0x368 ksys_write+0x7c/0xec __arm64_sys_write+0x20/0x30 el0_svc_common.llvm.7279915941325364641+0xbc/0x1bc do_el0_svc+0x28/0xa0 el0_svc+0x14/0x24 el0_sync_handler+0x88/0xec el0_sync+0x1c0/0x200 While at it, fix the possible NULL pointer dereference in other functions as well: of_thermal_get_temp(), of_thermal_set_emul_temp(), of_thermal_get_trend().

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2021-47202 since 03/25/2024. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 276342 (TencentOS Server 2: kernel (TSSA-2024:0557)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.210, 5.10.81, 5.14.21, 5.15.4 or 5.16 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 828f4c31684d/6a315471cb6a/0750f769b958/ef2590a5305e/96cfe05051fd is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (276342). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 276342
Nessus Name: TencentOS Server 2: kernel (TSSA-2024:0557)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.210/5.10.81/5.14.21/5.15.4/5.16
Patch: 828f4c31684d/6a315471cb6a/0750f769b958/ef2590a5305e/96cfe05051fd

Timelineinfo

03/25/2024 🔍
04/10/2024 +15 days 🔍
04/10/2024 +0 days 🔍
11/23/2025 +592 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2021-47202 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2021-47202
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-260339

Entryinfo

Created: 04/10/2024 21:58
Updated: 11/23/2025 21:26
Changes: 04/10/2024 21:58 (58), 01/14/2025 17:15 (13), 11/23/2025 21:26 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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