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CVE Record

CVE-2021-46996: netfilter: nftables: Fix a memleak from userdata error path in new objects

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nftables: Fix a memleak from userdata error path in new objects Release object name if userdata allocation fails.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel nftables memory-leak bug in an error path when creating new objects. If userdata allocation fails, the object name was not released. The source bundle gives no CVSS score, CWE, or exploitation evidence, so business urgency should be driven by kernel exposure and vendor patch status.

Executive priority

Treat this as a routine kernel hygiene item unless vendor advisories raise severity. There is no cited active exploitation or CVSS score in the bundle, but kernel memory-management flaws should be patched through normal maintenance, especially on shared or high-availability Linux infrastructure.

Technical view

CVE-2021-46996 is a netfilter/nftables flaw where the kernel failed to release an object name after userdata allocation failure. The upstream fix releases the name on that error path. The provided data lists Linux kernel entries including 5.10, 5.10.38, 5.11.22, 5.12.5, and 5.13, but exact downstream distro impact is not established here.

Likely exposure

Potential exposure is Linux systems running affected kernel builds with nftables/netfilter object handling present. The bundle does not identify affected distributions, remote reachability, required privileges, or default configuration impact, so teams should map installed kernel versions to vendor advisories and upstream stable fixes.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not report active exploitation, public exploit availability, or KEV listing. The issue is described as a memory leak on an allocation-failure path, which suggests availability or resource-consumption concern, but the provided sources do not prove practical exploitability or impact severity.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE description and upstream stable commit references. Avoid overclaiming impact: the source only states a missing release of object name when userdata allocation fails. Confirm exact vulnerable ranges and backports through the relevant distribution kernel changelog.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux distribution advisories for CVE-2021-46996 coverage.
  • Update affected kernels to vendor-supported builds containing the upstream stable fix.
  • Prioritize internet-facing or multi-tenant Linux systems after vendor impact confirmation.
  • Track the listed kernel stable commits against internal kernel baselines.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Compare installed kernels with vendor advisories for CVE-2021-46996.
  • Verify whether nftables/netfilter functionality is enabled or used.
  • Confirm patched kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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-2021-46996 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
5Source 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
LinuxLinuxb131c96496b369c7b14125e7c50e89ac7cec8051, b131c96496b369c7b14125e7c50e89ac7cec8051, b131c96496b369c7b14125e7c50e89ac7cec8051, b131c96496b369c7b14125e7c50e89ac7cec8051unaffected
LinuxLinux5.10, 0, 5.10.38, 5.11.22, 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.