CVE-2021-46928

CVE-2021-46928 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-755.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: parisc: Clear stale IIR value on instruction access rights trap When a trap 7 (Instruction access rights) occurs, this means the CPU couldn't execute an instruction due to missing execute permissions on the memory region. In this case it seems the CPU didn't even fetched the instruction from memory and thus did not store it in the cr19 (IIR) register before calling the trap handler. So, the trap handler will find some random old stale value in cr19. This patch simply overwrites the stale IIR value with a constant magic "bad food" value (0xbaadf00d), in the hope people don't start to try to understand the various random IIR values in trap 7 dumps.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-46928?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: parisc: Clear stale IIR value on instruction access rights trap When a trap 7 (Instruction access rights) occurs, this means the CPU couldn't execute an instruction due to missing execute permissions on the memory region. In this case it seems the CPU didn't even fetched the instruction from memory and thus did not store it in the cr19 (IIR) register before calling the trap handler. So, the trap handler will find some random old stale value in cr19. This patch simply overwrites the stale IIR value with a constant magic "bad food" value (0xbaadf00d), in the hope people don't start to try to understand the various random IIR values in trap 7 dumps.
How severe is CVE-2021-46928?
CVE-2021-46928 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-46928 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-46928?
CVE-2021-46928 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-46928?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2021-46928 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2021-46928 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2021-33576.
When was CVE-2021-46928 published?
CVE-2021-46928 was published on 2024-02-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

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