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CVE Record

CVE-2021-40490: A race condition was discovered in ext4_write_inline_data_end in fs/ext4/inline.c in the ext4 subsystem in...

A race condition was discovered in ext4_write_inline_data_end in fs/ext4/inline.c in the ext4 subsystem in the Linux kernel through 5.13.13.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This CVE describes a race condition in the Linux kernel ext4 filesystem code through version 5.13.13. The public bundle does not state the practical impact, severity, or exploitability. Treat it as a kernel maintenance exposure: systems may need vendor-patched kernel updates, especially where ext4 is used.

Executive priority

Prioritize within normal kernel patching cycles unless local vendor guidance raises severity. The lack of impact detail prevents confident business-risk ranking, but kernel filesystem flaws should not be ignored on production Linux infrastructure.

Technical view

CVE-2021-40490 is in ext4_write_inline_data_end in fs/ext4/inline.c. The upstream ext4 repository references a fixing commit, and Debian, Fedora, and NetApp published related advisories. No CVSS, CWE, exploit details, or impact class is provided in the supplied sources.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is Linux systems or appliances running kernels through 5.13.13, particularly environments using ext4. Distribution backports may make version-only checks unreliable, so validate against vendor advisories and patched package status.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. It also does not provide public exploit status. Any claim of exploitation in the wild would be unsupported by the provided evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is thin: the record names a race condition and affected kernel range but omits impact, prerequisites, and scoring. Focus analysis on the upstream commit and downstream backports; avoid assuming privilege escalation, denial of service, or data corruption without additional evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates from the relevant distribution or appliance vendor.
  • Review Debian, Fedora, and NetApp advisories for affected environments.
  • Verify whether the upstream ext4 fix was backported into your kernel package.
  • Reboot systems into the patched kernel after updating.
  • If patch status is unclear, request vendor confirmation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts and appliances running kernels through 5.13.13.
  • Identify systems using ext4 filesystems.
  • Compare installed and running kernels against vendor advisory fixed versions.
  • Confirm vendor-patched kernels remain active after reboot.
  • Document exceptions where vendor impact is unknown or unsupported.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2021-40490 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.