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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46919: dmaengine: idxd: fix wq size store permission state

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dmaengine: idxd: fix wq size store permission state WQ size can only be changed when the device is disabled. Current code allows change when device is enabled but wq is disabled. Change the check to detect device state.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue concerns incorrect state handling in the idxd DMA engine driver. The source says work queue size changes were allowed when the device was still enabled, although they should only occur when the device is disabled. Public sources provided do not describe impact, CVSS severity, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Handle through routine kernel vulnerability management unless your Linux vendor assigns higher severity. There is no provided evidence of active exploitation or business-critical exposure, but kernel fixes should not be deferred indefinitely on systems using affected versions.

Technical view

The flaw is in dmaengine idxd work queue size storage logic. The vulnerable code checked the work queue disabled state instead of the parent device disabled state, allowing a size change in an invalid device state. Stable kernel commits changed the permission check to use device state.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the idxd dmaengine code present or in use. The bundle lists Linux 5.6, 5.10.32, 5.11.16, and 5.12 among affected records, but does not provide distribution package mappings.

Exploitation context

No cited source states active exploitation, public exploit availability, or KEV listing. The provided description also does not define attacker prerequisites, privilege level, or security impact, so exploitation context remains incomplete.

Researcher notes

The record is sparse: no CVSS, CWE, exploitability details, or impact statement are provided. Analysis should focus on mapping downstream vendor kernels to the three stable commits and determining whether idxd is compiled, loaded, or operationally relevant.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux vendor advisories for a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize normal kernel update workflows for systems using affected kernel lines.
  • Confirm distribution backport status before assuming version numbers alone are safe.
  • If patching is delayed, check vendor guidance for driver-specific mitigations.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across managed hosts.
  • Identify systems where the idxd dmaengine driver is present or enabled.
  • Verify installed kernel packages include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Record exceptions where vendor guidance is unavailable or inconclusive.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2021-46919 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
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc52ca478233c172b2d322b5241d6279a8661cbba, c52ca478233c172b2d322b5241d6279a8661cbba, c52ca478233c172b2d322b5241d6279a8661cbbaunaffected
LinuxLinux5.6, 0, 5.10.32, 5.11.16, 5.12affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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