i40e: Fix use-after-free in i40e_client_subtask()
Priority LOW 34CWE-416Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i40e: Fix use-after-free in i40e_client_subtask() Currently the call to i40e_client_del_instance frees the object pf->cinst, however pf->cinst->lan_info is being accessed after the free. Fix this by adding the missing return. Addresses-Coverity: ("Read from pointer after free")
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00239 15th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Linux (Linux): 4.19.191, 5.4.120, 5.10.38 +3Red Hat: 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.16 and later | 4.19.191, 5.4.120, 5.10.38, 5.11.22, 5.12.5, 5.13 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.16 and later Fixed in 4.19.191, 5.4.120, 5.10.38, 5.11.22, 5.12.5, 5.13 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.16 to before 4.19.191; 4.20 to before 5.4.120; 5.5 to before 5.10.38; 5.11 to before 5.11.22; 5.12 to before 5.12.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.16 to before 4.19.191; 4.20 to before 5.4.120; 5.5 to before 5.10.38; 5.11 to before 5.11.22; 5.12 to before 5.12.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.19.191, 5.4.120, 5.10.38, 5.11.22, 5.12.5, 5.13
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-46991
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-73pj-jqmg-pmr5
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1322eaeb8af0d8985b5cc5fa759140fa0e57b84
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d718c15a2bf9ae082d5ae4d177fb19ef23cb4132
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/829a713450b8fb127cbabfc1244c1d8179ec5107
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ebc10aa7cd17fd9857dedac69600465c9dd16d1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fd5d262e7442192ac7611ff1597a36c5b044323
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/38318f23a7ef86a8b1862e5e8078c4de121960c3
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
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- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2021-46991 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-46991 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-73pj-jqmg-pmr5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-46991 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences