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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46944: media: staging/intel-ipu3: Fix memory leak in imu_fmt

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: staging/intel-ipu3: Fix memory leak in imu_fmt We are losing the reference to an allocated memory if try. Change the order of the check to avoid that.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-46944 is a Linux kernel issue in the staging Intel IPU3 media driver. A coding error can lose a reference to allocated memory, creating a memory leak. The sources do not provide CVSS, business impact, or confirmed exploit details.

Executive priority

Track through normal kernel patch management unless affected IPU3 media systems are business-critical. No source-supported evidence shows active exploitation or high-impact compromise.

Technical view

The resolved defect is in staging/intel-ipu3, specifically imu_fmt. The fix changes check ordering so allocated memory is not orphaned on a try path. Public data identifies Linux kernel affected version information and stable kernel commits, but no CWE, CVSS vector, or exploit mechanics are provided.

Likely exposure

Likely limited to systems running affected Linux kernels with the Intel IPU3 staging media driver present or enabled. Exposure should be verified against deployed kernel versions and vendor backport status.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing, active exploitation, public weaponization, or remote attack details. Treat exploitation evidence as absent, not disproven.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: a kernel memory leak fix with stable commits and ambiguous affected-version metadata. Do not infer privilege escalation, remote reachability, or denial-of-service severity without vendor analysis or local driver exposure confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux vendor advisory and kernel package backport status.
  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using Intel IPU3 camera/media functionality.
  • Disable unused staging media drivers where operationally acceptable.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across endpoints and images.
  • Confirm whether intel-ipu3 staging driver is built, loaded, or packaged.
  • Map vendor kernels to the referenced stable fix commits.
  • Review kernel logs for resource pressure only as supporting evidence.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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-2021-46944 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

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux6d5f26f2e045f2377b524516194657c00efbbce8, 6d5f26f2e045f2377b524516194657c00efbbce8, 6d5f26f2e045f2377b524516194657c00efbbce8, 6d5f26f2e045f2377b524516194657c00efbbce8, 6d5f26f2e045f2377b524516194657c00efbbce8unaffected
LinuxLinux5.2, 0, 5.4.118, 5.10.36, 5.11.20, 5.12.3, 5.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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