CVE-2021-46910

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ARM: 9063/1: mm: reduce maximum number of CPUs if DEBUG_KMAP_LOCAL is enabled The debugging code for kmap_local() doubles the number of per-CPU fixmap slots allocated for kmap_local(), in order to use half of them as guard regions. This causes the fixmap region to grow downwards beyond the start of its reserved window if the supported number of CPUs is large, and collide with the newly added virtual DT mapping right below it, which is obviously not good. One manifestation of this is EFI boot on a kernel built with NR_CPUS=32 and CONFIG_DEBUG_KMAP_LOCAL=y, which may pass the FDT in highmem, resulting in block entries below the fixmap region that the fixmap code misidentifies as fixmap table entries, and subsequently tries to dereference using a phys-to-virt translation that is only valid for lowmem. This results in a cryptic splat such as the one below. ftrace: allocating 45548 entries in 89 pages 8<--- cut here --- Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address fc6006f0 pgd = (ptrval) [fc6006f0] *pgd=80000040207003, *pmd=00000000 Internal error: Oops: a06 [#1] SMP ARM Modules linked in: CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper Not tainted 5.11.0+ #382 Hardware name: Generic DT based system PC is at cpu_ca15_set_pte_ext+0x24/0x30 LR is at __set_fixmap+0xe4/0x118 pc : [<c041ac9c>] lr : [<c04189d8>] psr: 400000d3 sp : c1601ed8 ip : 00400000 fp : 00800000 r10: 0000071f r9 : 00421000 r8 : 00c00000 r7 : 00c00000 r6 : 0000071f r5 : ffade000 r4 : 4040171f r3 : 00c00000 r2 : 4040171f r1 : c041ac78 r0 : fc6006f0 Flags: nZcv IRQs off FIQs off Mode SVC_32 ISA ARM Segment none Control: 30c5387d Table: 40203000 DAC: 00000001 Process swapper (pid: 0, stack limit = 0x(ptrval)) So let's limit CONFIG_NR_CPUS to 16 when CONFIG_DEBUG_KMAP_LOCAL=y. Also, fix the BUILD_BUG_ON() check that was supposed to catch this, by checking whether the region grows below the start address rather than above the end address.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2024-02-27 07:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-08-04 10:16 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.0 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2024-02-27 07:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-08-04 10:16 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.11.16

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.0

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

High

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2021-46910.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2021-46910. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

Copy as ticket · More options · Status badge