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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46921: locking/qrwlock: Fix ordering in queued_write_lock_slowpath()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: locking/qrwlock: Fix ordering in queued_write_lock_slowpath() While this code is executed with the wait_lock held, a reader can acquire the lock without holding wait_lock. The writer side loops checking the value with the atomic_cond_read_acquire(), but only truly acquires the lock when the compare-and-exchange is completed successfully which isn’t ordered. This exposes the window between the acquire and the cmpxchg to an A-B-A problem which allows reads following the lock acquisition to observe values speculatively before the write lock is truly acquired. We've seen a problem in epoll where the reader does a xchg while holding the read lock, but the writer can see a value change out from under it. Writer | Reader -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ep_scan_ready_list() | |- write_lock_irq() | |- queued_write_lock_slowpath() | |- atomic_cond_read_acquire() | | read_lock_irqsave(&ep->lock, flags); --> (observes value before unlock) | chain_epi_lockless() | | epi->next = xchg(&ep->ovflist, epi); | | read_unlock_irqrestore(&ep->lock, flags); | | | atomic_cmpxchg_relaxed() | |-- READ_ONCE(ep->ovflist); | A core can order the read of the ovflist ahead of the atomic_cmpxchg_relaxed(). Switching the cmpxchg to use acquire semantics addresses this issue at which point the atomic_cond_read can be switched to use relaxed semantics. [peterz: use try_cmpxchg()]

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue is a low-level locking bug that can let code observe inconsistent state during concurrent access. The source describes an observed epoll race, but provides no CVSS score, CWE, active exploitation claim, or impact severity.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel maintenance and reliability risk until vendor scoring clarifies impact. Prioritize routine patch cycles for internet-facing and high-availability Linux systems, but do not escalate as actively exploited based on the provided evidence.

Technical view

In queued_write_lock_slowpath(), the writer loop used acquire semantics before a relaxed compare-and-exchange. That ordering gap created an A-B-A window where reads after apparent write-lock acquisition could be observed before the lock was truly acquired. The fix changes the successful compare-and-exchange ordering.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream builds without the stable fix. The bundle lists Linux 4.15, 4.19.189, 5.4.115, 5.10.33, 5.11.17, and 5.12 as affected.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not support active exploitation: KEV is false, and no cited source claims public exploitation. It describes a kernel concurrency failure observed in epoll, not a weaponized attack path.

Researcher notes

The key issue is memory ordering in queued write-lock acquisition. Validate whether downstream kernels include the acquire-semantics change for the compare-and-exchange path. The source bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, and distro-specific package status.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor-supported Linux kernel updates containing the stable qrwlock fix.
  • Confirm distro backports rather than relying only on upstream version numbers.
  • Prioritize hosts running listed affected kernel branches.
  • Check vendor advisories if no patched package is currently available.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory deployed Linux kernel versions across servers and appliances.
  • Map each kernel package to vendor advisories or stable fix commits.
  • Confirm affected hosts received a patched or backported kernel build.
  • Review epoll-related kernel instability reports as supporting evidence, not proof of exploitation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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

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CVE-2021-46921 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
6Source 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
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxb519b56e378ee82caf9b079b04f5db87dedc3251, b519b56e378ee82caf9b079b04f5db87dedc3251, b519b56e378ee82caf9b079b04f5db87dedc3251, b519b56e378ee82caf9b079b04f5db87dedc3251, b519b56e378ee82caf9b079b04f5db87dedc3251unaffected
LinuxLinux4.15, 0, 4.19.189, 5.4.115, 5.10.33, 5.11.17, 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.