CVE-2021-46913

Local privilege escalation via shallow-copied connlimit list

Published Feb 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Memory corruption in Linux kernel nftables allows local users to gain kernel privileges through connlimit expressions in set elements. The set-element cloning path in net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c uses memcpy on an expression template, duplicating embedded list pointers instead of initializing a new connlimit list. Reaching the flaw requires nftables configuration through nfnetlink with CAP_NET_ADMIN, which is obtainable in an unprivileged user namespace; corrupted list processing permits kernel memory access or a host crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Linux kernel nftables allows local users to gain kernel privileges through connlimit expressions in set elements. The set-element cloning path in net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c uses memcpy on an expression template, duplicating embedded list pointers instead of initializing a new connlimit list. Reaching the flaw requires nftables configuration through nfnetlink with CAP_NET_ADMIN, which is obtainable in an unprivileged user namespace; corrupted list processing permits kernel memory access or a host crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46913
Published
Feb 27, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4094445229760d0d31a4190dfe88fe815c9fc34e <47d8de3c226574a3ddb8b87d0c152028d1bafef4
  2. Affected versionversion=4094445229760d0d31a4190dfe88fe815c9fc34e <4d8f9065830e526c83199186c5f56a6514f457d2
  3. Affected versionversion=4094445229760d0d31a4190dfe88fe815c9fc34e <e51ff3ffc316377cca21de8b80404eed0c37b3c3
  4. Affected versionversion=5.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4094445229760d0d31a4190dfe88fe815c9fc34e <47d8de3c226574a3ddb8b87d0c152028d1bafef4; version=4094445229760d0d31a4190dfe88fe815c9fc34e <4d8f9065830e526c83199186c5f56a6514f457d2; version=4094445229760d0d31a4190dfe88fe815c9fc34e <e51ff3ffc316377cca21de8b80404eed0c37b3c3; version=5.7

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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