CVE-2021-46021Public exploit

Application crash via use-after-free cleanup

Published Jan 14, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in GNU Recutils 1.8.90 allows local users to crash recsel and recinf with crafted recfiles. The rec_record_destroy cleanup path releases record data incorrectly, leaving dangling structures that trigger double-free or invalid-free faults during record-set destruction. Exploitation requires local execution of an affected utility against attacker-controlled input and results in process termination or denial of service, without evidence of confidentiality or integrity compromise.

CVSS severity4.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.95%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in GNU Recutils 1.8.90 allows local users to crash recsel and recinf with crafted recfiles. The rec_record_destroy cleanup path releases record data incorrectly, leaving dangling structures that trigger double-free or invalid-free faults during record-set destruction. Exploitation requires local execution of an affected utility against attacker-controlled input and results in process termination or denial of service, without evidence of confidentiality or integrity compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46021
Published
Jan 14, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.0Rapid7AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 11, 2026Sep 17, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 17, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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