CVE-2021-46922

Kernel oops via unbalanced TPM operation release

Published Feb 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A TPM operation-lifetime flaw in Linux 5.10.20 through 5.10.32 and 5.11.3 through 5.11.16 allows local users to trigger a kernel oops. The tpm2_seal_trusted() function calls tpm_put_ops() without the corresponding tpm_try_get_ops(), unbalancing TPM operation ownership. A local user must invoke trusted-key seal operations on TIS-based TPM hardware; the resulting oops interrupts kernel operation.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

A TPM operation-lifetime flaw in Linux 5.10.20 through 5.10.32 and 5.11.3 through 5.11.16 allows local users to trigger a kernel oops. The tpm2_seal_trusted() function calls tpm_put_ops() without the corresponding tpm_try_get_ops(), unbalancing TPM operation ownership. A local user must invoke trusted-key seal operations on TIS-based TPM hardware; the resulting oops interrupts kernel operation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46922
Published
Feb 27, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
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=498b8fc1cdc13b57b02dd28544b18323900fae10 <39c8d760d44cb3fa0d67e8cd505df81cf4d80999
  2. Affected versionversion=5.10.20 <5.10.33
  3. Affected versionversion=5.11.3 <5.11.17
  4. Affected versionversion=67118bb78d72aab5b831f054a74ae856339a1974 <bf84ef2dd2ccdcd8f2658476d34b51455f970ce4
  5. Affected versionversion=8c657a0590de585b1115847c17b34a58025f2f4b <9d5171eab462a63e2fbebfccf6026e92be018f20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=498b8fc1cdc13b57b02dd28544b18323900fae10 <39c8d760d44cb3fa0d67e8cd505df81cf4d80999; version=5.10.20 <5.10.33; version=5.11.3 <5.11.17; version=67118bb78d72aab5b831f054a74ae856339a1974 <bf84ef2dd2ccdcd8f2658476d34b51455f970ce4; version=8c657a0590de585b1115847c17b34a58025f2f4b <9d5171eab462a63e2fbebfccf6026e92be018f20

Published CVSS scores

5.5Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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