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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-38160

🗓️ 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 10 Views

Linux host has unpatched vulnerability CVE-2021-38160 affecting data integrity due to buffer overflow.

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Refs
Code
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(224067);
  script_version("1.17");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/07/17");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-38160");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-38160");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - In drivers/char/virtio_console.c in the Linux kernel before 5.13.4, data corruption or loss can be
    triggered by an untrusted device that supplies a buf->len value exceeding the buffer size. NOTE: the
    vendor indicates that the cited data corruption is not a vulnerability in any existing use case; the
    length validation was added solely for robustness in the face of anomalous host OS behavior
    (CVE-2021-38160)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2021-38160");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-38160");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2021-38160");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2021/08/01");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/03/05");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
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  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts");
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  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:24.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:centos:centos:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-edge");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-edge");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke-4.15");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-edge");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-intel-iot-realtime");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi-realtime");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-realtime");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:bpftool");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-abi-whitelists");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-bootwrapper");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-debug");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-debug-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-doc");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-headers");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-kdump");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-kdump-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-debug");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-debug-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-debug-kvm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-doc");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-kvm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-trace");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-trace-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-rt-trace-kvm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-tools");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-tools-libs");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:kernel-tools-libs-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:perf");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:python-perf");
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  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-abi-whitelists");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-bootwrapper");
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  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-debug-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-devel");
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  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-headers");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-kdump");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-kdump-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-debug");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-debug-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-debug-kvm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-doc");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-kvm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-trace");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-trace-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-rt-trace-kvm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-tools");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-tools-libs");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:kernel-tools-libs-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:perf");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:python-perf");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("set_linux_os_id.nasl", "ssh_get_info2.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/OS/identifier", "Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/CentOS Linux-7", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-14.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-24.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/CentOS/rpm-list")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-extra-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-libc-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-source-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic-lpae"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-lowlatency"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-edge"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-cloud-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-edge"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-edge"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke-4.15"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-edge"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-azure"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-oem"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-libc-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-headers-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-host"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-raspi2"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-headers-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-oem"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-intel-iot-realtime"},
          {"reference": "linux-realtime"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-raspi-realtime"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "CentOS Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "bpftool"},
          {"reference": "kernel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-abi-whitelists"},
          {"reference": "kernel-bootwrapper"},
          {"reference": "kernel-debug"},
          {"reference": "kernel-debug-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-doc"},
          {"reference": "kernel-headers"},
          {"reference": "kernel-kdump"},
          {"reference": "kernel-kdump-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-debug"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-debug-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-debug-kvm"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-doc"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-kvm"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-trace"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-trace-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-trace-kvm"},
          {"reference": "kernel-tools"},
          {"reference": "kernel-tools-libs"},
          {"reference": "kernel-tools-libs-devel"},
          {"reference": "perf"},
          {"reference": "python-perf"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "bpftool"},
          {"reference": "kernel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-abi-whitelists"},
          {"reference": "kernel-bootwrapper"},
          {"reference": "kernel-debug"},
          {"reference": "kernel-debug-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-doc"},
          {"reference": "kernel-headers"},
          {"reference": "kernel-kdump"},
          {"reference": "kernel-kdump-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-debug"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-debug-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-debug-kvm"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-doc"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-kvm"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-trace"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-trace-devel"},
          {"reference": "kernel-rt-trace-kvm"},
          {"reference": "kernel-tools"},
          {"reference": "kernel-tools-libs"},
          {"reference": "kernel-tools-libs-devel"},
          {"reference": "perf"},
          {"reference": "python-perf"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');

var third_party_support = get_kb_item('Host/OS/extended-third-party');
if (!empty_or_null(third_party_support)) {
    var third_party_vendors = distro_constraints_values['third_party'];
    if (!empty_or_null(third_party_vendors)) {
        var vendor;
        foreach vendor (third_party_vendors) {
            if (vendor == third_party_support) exit(0, 'A third party management patch is available for this vulnerability from ' + vendor + '.\n');
        }
    }
}

var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_HOLE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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17 Jul 2026 00:00Current
6.7Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.7
CVSS 27.2
CVSS 3.17.8
EPSS0.00395
10