CVE-2021-28452 is a vulnerability that affects the Linux kernel, which is commonly used in operating systems such as Ubuntu, Debian, and CentOS. This vulnerability can allow an attacker with local access to gain elevated privileges on the affected system, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code and take control of it. The vulnerability was caused by a flaw in the implementation of the eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) program verifier and was assigned a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10.
The vulnerability was discovered on March 22, 2021, and publicly disclosed on May 4, 2021. The Linux community quickly responded to the disclosure and released patches for the affected systems. However, despite the availability of patches, there were reports of active exploitation of this vulnerability in the wild. Researchers noted that this vulnerability was being actively used by the Xanthe malware to escalate privileges and gain root access on compromised systems.
Organizations running Linux-based systems are advised to apply the latest security updates as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious activity and ensuring good security hygiene practices are in place can help detect and prevent potential attacks.