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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46995: can: mcp251xfd: mcp251xfd_probe(): fix an error pointer dereference in probe

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: mcp251xfd: mcp251xfd_probe(): fix an error pointer dereference in probe When we converted this code to use dev_err_probe() we accidentally removed a return. It means that if devm_clk_get() it will lead to an Oops when we call clk_get_rate() on the next line.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel reliability issue in the MCP251xFD CAN bus driver. If clock acquisition fails during driver startup, the kernel may dereference an error pointer and crash with an Oops. Business urgency is highest for systems that use this CAN controller path, especially operational or embedded Linux deployments.

Executive priority

Treat as targeted operational reliability risk, not a broad internet-facing emergency. Patch during normal kernel maintenance unless affected CAN-enabled systems are safety-critical or experiencing probe-time crashes.

Technical view

The mcp251xfd_probe() path lost a return after conversion to dev_err_probe(). When devm_clk_get() fails, execution continues and clk_get_rate() is called on an error pointer. The source identifies Linux 5.12-related affected code and stable kernel fixes in referenced upstream commits.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems with the mcp251xfd CAN driver present and exercised during device probing. The bundle does not show network reachability, privilege escalation, data theft, or broad default exposure evidence.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is reported in the provided sources, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The documented impact is a kernel Oops during probe when devm_clk_get() fails; no public exploit path is described in the bundle.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: the source describes a missing return causing error-pointer dereference after devm_clk_get() failure. No CVSS, CWE, exploitability details, or downstream distro status are provided. Validate impact against actual hardware, kernel config, and vendor backport metadata.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check distribution or device vendor advisories for backported kernel packages.
  • Prioritize systems using MCP251xFD CAN hardware or this kernel driver.
  • Avoid relying on unsupported local patches without vendor validation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and affected device fleets.
  • Confirm whether the mcp251xfd CAN driver is built, loaded, or probed.
  • Review kernel logs for Oops events involving mcp251xfd_probe().
  • Verify installed kernels include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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

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CVE-2021-46995 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
3Source 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
LinuxLinuxcf8ee6de2543a0fa6d9471ddbb7216464a9681a1, cf8ee6de2543a0fa6d9471ddbb7216464a9681a1unaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 5.12.5, 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.