LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2024-46697: nfsd: ensure that nfsd4_fattr_args.context is zeroed out

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: ensure that nfsd4_fattr_args.context is zeroed out If nfsd4_encode_fattr4 ends up doing a "goto out" before we get to checking for the security label, then args.context will be set to uninitialized junk on the stack, which we'll then try to free. Initialize it early.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux NFS server can follow an error path that treats uninitialized memory as a valid security context and attempts to free it. This memory-safety failure could disrupt exposed NFS services and may have broader consequences, although the supplied sources do not demonstrate a specific impact chain.

Executive priority

Treat this as urgent on reachable NFS servers because the supplied rating is CVSS 9.8 and the vulnerable path is network-facing. Prioritize inventory and supported kernel updates, while recognizing that real-world exploitation has not been established by the supplied evidence.

Technical view

Within Linux nfsd, nfsd4_encode_fattr4 can exit before security-label handling. Without early initialization, nfsd4_fattr_args.context may contain uninitialized stack data and later be freed as valid. The referenced stable commits initialize the context early. The supplied sources do not establish demonstrated code execution or data compromise.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated on Linux systems providing NFS through nfsd, particularly builds represented by the affected 6.7, 6.10.8, and 6.11 entries. The supplied version data is ambiguous and includes “0,” so distribution backports and advisories must determine actual exposure.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS vector describes network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. However, this CVE is not listed as KEV, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation, a public proof of concept, or reliable remote code execution.

Researcher notes

The central primitive is an invalid free caused by an uninitialized context pointer on an early exit path. The fix initializes that field before possible exits. Version boundaries in the supplied affected data are insufficiently clear; validate against vendor package advisories and commit backports rather than version strings alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify Linux systems running nfsd and prioritize NFS servers reachable by untrusted clients.
  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Follow distribution guidance because kernel fixes may be backported without matching upstream version numbers.
  • If updating is delayed, restrict NFS access and disable unnecessary nfsd services.
  • Reboot into the updated kernel according to vendor instructions.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether nfsd is enabled and identify hosts exposing NFS to untrusted networks.
  • Record each server’s running kernel build and distribution package revision.
  • Compare builds with distribution advisories and backport records for CVE-2024-46697.
  • Verify the referenced initialization change, or its vendor-equivalent backport, is present.
  • After remediation, confirm the updated kernel is running and NFS remains healthy.
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

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-46697 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-46697Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf59388a579c6a395de8f7372b267d3abecd8d6bf, f59388a579c6a395de8f7372b267d3abecd8d6bfunaffected
LinuxLinux6.7, 0, 6.10.8, 6.11affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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