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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46964: scsi: qla2xxx: Reserve extra IRQ vectors

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: qla2xxx: Reserve extra IRQ vectors Commit a6dcfe08487e ("scsi: qla2xxx: Limit interrupt vectors to number of CPUs") lowers the number of allocated MSI-X vectors to the number of CPUs. That breaks vector allocation assumptions in qla83xx_iospace_config(), qla24xx_enable_msix() and qla2x00_iospace_config(). Either of the functions computes maximum number of qpairs as: ha->max_qpairs = ha->msix_count - 1 (MB interrupt) - 1 (default response queue) - 1 (ATIO, in dual or pure target mode) max_qpairs is set to zero in case of two CPUs and initiator mode. The number is then used to allocate ha->queue_pair_map inside qla2x00_alloc_queues(). No allocation happens and ha->queue_pair_map is left NULL but the driver thinks there are queue pairs available. qla2xxx_queuecommand() tries to find a qpair in the map and crashes: if (ha->mqenable) { uint32_t tag; uint16_t hwq; struct qla_qpair *qpair = NULL; tag = blk_mq_unique_tag(cmd->request); hwq = blk_mq_unique_tag_to_hwq(tag); qpair = ha->queue_pair_map[hwq]; # <- HERE if (qpair) return qla2xxx_mqueuecommand(host, cmd, qpair); } BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP PTI CPU: 0 PID: 72 Comm: kworker/u4:3 Tainted: G W 5.10.0-rc1+ #25 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.0.0-prebuilt.qemu-project.org 04/01/2014 Workqueue: scsi_wq_7 fc_scsi_scan_rport [scsi_transport_fc] RIP: 0010:qla2xxx_queuecommand+0x16b/0x3f0 [qla2xxx] Call Trace: scsi_queue_rq+0x58c/0xa60 blk_mq_dispatch_rq_list+0x2b7/0x6f0 ? __sbitmap_get_word+0x2a/0x80 __blk_mq_sched_dispatch_requests+0xb8/0x170 blk_mq_sched_dispatch_requests+0x2b/0x50 __blk_mq_run_hw_queue+0x49/0xb0 __blk_mq_delay_run_hw_queue+0xfb/0x150 blk_mq_sched_insert_request+0xbe/0x110 blk_execute_rq+0x45/0x70 __scsi_execute+0x10e/0x250 scsi_probe_and_add_lun+0x228/0xda0 __scsi_scan_target+0xf4/0x620 ? __pm_runtime_resume+0x4f/0x70 scsi_scan_target+0x100/0x110 fc_scsi_scan_rport+0xa1/0xb0 [scsi_transport_fc] process_one_work+0x1ea/0x3b0 worker_thread+0x28/0x3b0 ? process_one_work+0x3b0/0x3b0 kthread+0x112/0x130 ? kthread_park+0x80/0x80 ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30 The driver should allocate enough vectors to provide every CPU it's own HW queue and still handle reserved (MB, RSP, ATIO) interrupts. The change fixes the crash on dual core VM and prevents unbalanced QP allocation where nr_hw_queues is two less than the number of CPUs.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel reliability vulnerability in the QLogic qla2xxx Fibre Channel SCSI driver. On certain CPU and driver configurations, the kernel can crash while scanning or using storage. The main business risk is storage service disruption on affected Linux hosts, not confirmed remote compromise.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted infrastructure stability issue. Prioritize patching storage-connected Linux systems where an unexpected kernel crash would disrupt production services, backup jobs, or virtualization platforms.

Technical view

A prior qla2xxx change limited MSI-X interrupt vectors to CPU count. That broke queue-pair allocation assumptions, leaving queue_pair_map NULL while the driver still used it. qla2xxx_queuecommand() can then dereference NULL and trigger a kernel oops. The supplied fix reserves extra IRQ vectors for mailbox, response, and target-mode interrupts.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the qla2xxx driver for QLogic Fibre Channel storage, especially affected 5.11/5.12-era kernels or kernels containing the cited introducing commit without the stable fixes.

Exploitation context

The bundle provides a crash trace and fix rationale, but no evidence of active exploitation. KEV is false, and no cited source claims weaponization. Practical impact is likely denial of service through a kernel crash under affected storage-driver conditions.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a NULL pointer dereference in qla2xxx caused by insufficient reserved MSI-X vectors. The bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, and distribution-specific affected ranges, so validation should rely on kernel provenance and vendor advisories.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels to versions containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize hosts using qla2xxx with Fibre Channel storage paths.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported kernel packages and reboot requirements.
  • If immediate patching is blocked, follow vendor guidance for temporary risk reduction.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts loading the qla2xxx kernel module.
  • Confirm kernel version or commit history against the introducing and fixed commits.
  • Review storage hosts for recent kernel oops traces mentioning qla2xxx_queuecommand.
  • Verify patched systems run a vendor kernel containing the stable fix.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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.

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CVE-2021-46964 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

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxa6dcfe08487e5e83b6b4214c959a9577a9ed2d9f, a6dcfe08487e5e83b6b4214c959a9577a9ed2d9f, a6dcfe08487e5e83b6b4214c959a9577a9ed2d9funaffected
LinuxLinux5.11, 0, 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.