CVE-2021-46998: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ethernet:enic: Fix a use after free bug in enic_hard_start_xmit In enic_hard_sta...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ethernet:enic: Fix a use after free bug in enic_hard_start_xmit In enic_hard_start_xmit, it calls enic_queue_wq_skb(). Inside enic_queue_wq_skb, if some error happens, the skb will be freed by dev_kfree_skb(skb). But the freed skb is still used in skb_tx_timestamp(skb). My patch makes enic_queue_wq_skb() return error and goto spin_unlock() incase of error. The solution is provided by Govind. See https://lkml.org/lkml/2021/4/30/961.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.24%

15.3th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-416

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.16, < 4.19.191
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.20, < 5.4.120
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.5, < 5.10.38
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.11, < 5.11.22
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.12, < 5.12.5

References

Timeline

Published: Feb 28, 2024
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-46998?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ethernet:enic: Fix a use after free bug in enic_hard_start_xmit In enic_hard_start_xmit, it calls enic_queue_wq_skb(). Inside enic_queue_wq_skb, if some error happens, the skb will be freed by dev_kfree_skb(skb). But the freed skb is still used in skb_tx_timestamp(skb). My patch makes enic_queue_wq_skb() return error and goto spin_unlock() incase of error. The solution is provided by Govind. See https://lkml.org/lkml/2021/4/30/961.

How severe is CVE-2021-46998?

CVE-2021-46998 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.24% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2021-46998?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.