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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46935: binder: fix async_free_space accounting for empty parcels

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: binder: fix async_free_space accounting for empty parcels In 4.13, commit 74310e06be4d ("android: binder: Move buffer out of area shared with user space") fixed a kernel structure visibility issue. As part of that patch, sizeof(void *) was used as the buffer size for 0-length data payloads so the driver could detect abusive clients sending 0-length asynchronous transactions to a server by enforcing limits on async_free_size. Unfortunately, on the "free" side, the accounting of async_free_space did not add the sizeof(void *) back. The result was that up to 8-bytes of async_free_space were leaked on every async transaction of 8-bytes or less. These small transactions are uncommon, so this accounting issue has gone undetected for several years. The fix is to use "buffer_size" (the allocated buffer size) instead of "size" (the logical buffer size) when updating the async_free_space during the free operation. These are the same except for this corner case of asynchronous transactions with payloads < 8 bytes.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel Binder accounting bug. Very small asynchronous Binder messages could gradually consume tracked async buffer space incorrectly. The source does not provide CVSS, confirmed impact, or exploitation evidence, so urgency depends on whether affected kernels with Binder are in use.

Executive priority

Treat as a validation and patch-management item rather than an emergency based on the supplied evidence. Escalate only for environments that run Binder-enabled affected kernels with untrusted local workloads.

Technical view

In Binder, async_free_space was decremented using the allocated buffer size for tiny payloads but later restored using the logical size. For async transactions of 8 bytes or less, this leaked up to 8 bytes of accounting per transaction. Fixed kernels restore async_free_space using buffer_size.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is limited to systems running affected Linux kernel versions with Binder enabled and accessible to local Binder clients. The bundle lists affected Linux kernel versions including 4.14 through 5.16 ranges, but does not identify specific distributions or appliances.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the provided sources do not state active exploitation. The description indicates abusive clients could send tiny asynchronous transactions to affect Binder accounting, but no public exploit, privilege impact, or denial-of-service outcome is documented in the bundle.

Researcher notes

Key uncertainty is impact. The root cause and fix are clear, but the bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploit status, and distribution mappings. Researchers should focus on affected kernel lineage, Binder enablement, and whether local workload isolation changes risk.

Mitigation direction

  • Check whether deployed kernels include the referenced stable Binder fixes.
  • Prioritize systems where Binder is enabled and reachable by untrusted local code.
  • Apply vendor kernel updates that contain the stable fixes.
  • If no vendor package is available, follow vendor guidance for backport status.
  • Track distribution advisories because the source bundle does not name distro packages.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and compare against vendor fixed releases.
  • Confirm whether Binder support is enabled in relevant kernel builds.
  • Review kernel changelogs for the cited Binder async_free_space fix.
  • Check vendor security advisories for CVE-2021-46935 mapping.
  • Document any systems where Binder is unused or unavailable.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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-2021-46935 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
7Source 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
LinuxLinux74310e06be4d74dcf67cd108366710dee5c576d5, 74310e06be4d74dcf67cd108366710dee5c576d5, 74310e06be4d74dcf67cd108366710dee5c576d5, 74310e06be4d74dcf67cd108366710dee5c576d5, 74310e06be4d74dcf67cd108366710dee5c576d5, 74310e06be4d74dcf67cd108366710dee5c576d5unaffected
LinuxLinux4.14, 0, 4.14.261, 4.19.224, 5.4.170, 5.10.90, 5.15.13, 5.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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