CVE-2021-20297: A flaw was found in NetworkManager in versions before 1.30.0

Routine

MEDIUM 5.5WATCHLISTUPGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2021-20297 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting networkmanager, openshift container platform, enterprise linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A flaw was found in NetworkManager in versions before 1.30.0. Setting match.path and activating a profile crashes NetworkManager. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 83%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2021-05-26
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: fedoraproject · gnome · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-05-26 21:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:33 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnome networkmanager UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.30.0

Fixed in: 1.30.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy networkmanager || rpm -q networkmanager || networkmanager --version

2. UPGRADE to 1.30.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade networkmanager

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade networkmanager

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

redhat openshift container platform DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy openshift-container-platform || rpm -q openshift-container-platform || openshift-container-platform --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison openshift-container-platform sudo apt install openshift-container-platform=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold openshift-container-platform

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list openshift-container-platform sudo dnf downgrade openshift-container-platform-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add openshift-container-platform

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 33

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 33

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-20297?

networkmanager: upgrade to 1.30.0; openshift container platform: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-20297 being exploited?

CVE-2021-20297 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2021-20297 affect?

CVE-2021-20297 affects networkmanager, openshift container platform, enterprise linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). A flaw was found in NetworkManager in versions before 1.30.0. Setting match.path and activating a profile crashes NetworkManager. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.

How urgent is CVE-2021-20297?

Priority 29/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Red Hat OpenShift vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2018-1000135 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE GNOME NetworkManager version 1.10.2 and earlier contains a Information Exposure (CWE-200) vulnerability in DNS
CVE-2016-0764 MEDIUM 6.2 UPGRADE Race condition in Network Manager before 1.0.12 as packaged in Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 7, Red Hat Ent
CVE-2015-2924 LOW 3.3 UPGRADE The receive_ra function in rdisc/nm-lndp-rdisc.c in the Neighbor Discovery (ND) protocol implementation in the
CVE-2015-0272 MEDIUM 5.0 UPGRADE DOWNGRADE GNOME NetworkManager allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (IPv6 traffic disruption) via a craf

References

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