What is CVE-2021-46973?

CVE-2021-46973 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.4 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416), affecting Linux kernel versions from 5.8 onward and patched in 5.10.35, 5.11.19, 5.12.2 and others. CVE-2021-46973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2021-46973?

CVE-2021-46973 has a CVSS score of 8.4 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2021-46973?

Yes, CVE-2021-46973 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.35, 5.11.19, 5.12.2 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.8 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2021-46973 actively exploited?

CVE-2021-46973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/416.html

CVE-2021-46973

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: qrtr: Avoid potential use after free in MHI send It is possible that the MHI ul_callback will be invoked immediately following the queueing of the skb for transmission, leading to the callback decrementing the refcount of the associated sk and freeing the skb. As such the dereference of skb and the increment of the sk refcount must happen before the skb is queued, to avoid the skb to be used after free and potentially the sk to drop its last refcount..

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2024-02-27

Last modified 2025-03-14

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

8.4

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2021-46973 is a Use After Free vulnerability

What is Use After Free?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.8 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.35, 5.11.19, 5.12.2, 5.13 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 5.8

Fixed in

✓ 5.10.35 5.10.x ✓ 5.11.19 5.11.x ✓ 5.12.2 5.12.x ✓ 5.13

References

4 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03c649dee8b1eb5600212a249542a70f47a5ab40

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47a017f33943278570c072bc71681809b2567b3a

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/48ec949ac979b4b42d740f67b6177797af834f80

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea474054c2cc6e1284604b21361f475c7cc8c0a0

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2021-46973

Severity High

CVSS score 8.4 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2024-02-27

Modified 2025-03-14

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-46973?

CVE-2021-46973 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.4 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.8 onward and has been patched in 5.10.35, 5.11.19, 5.12.2 and others. CVE-2021-46973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2021-46973?

CVE-2021-46973 has a CVSS score of 8.4 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2021-46973?

Yes. CVE-2021-46973 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.35, 5.11.19, 5.12.2 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.8 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2021-46973 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2021-46973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.