CVE-2021-46932

Kernel disruption via uninitialized appletouch work item

Published Feb 27, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper initialization in the Linux appletouch driver allows local users to disrupt kernel availability by closing a registering input device. The driver registers input_dev before assigning dev->work.func, while input_dev->close() can call cancel_work_sync() during that window and reach __flush_work() with a null callback. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an Apple USB touchpad handled by appletouch; the reported result is a kernel warning and availability loss.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper initialization in the Linux appletouch driver allows local users to disrupt kernel availability by closing a registering input device. The driver registers input_dev before assigning dev->work.func, while input_dev->close() can call cancel_work_sync() during that window and reach __flush_work() with a null callback. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an Apple USB touchpad handled by appletouch; the reported result is a kernel warning and availability loss.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46932
Published
Feb 27, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-665, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=2.6.23
  2. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <292d2ac61fb0d9276a0f7b7ce4f50426f2a1c99f
  3. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <975774ea7528b489930b76a77ffc4d5379b95ff2
  4. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <9f329d0d6c91142cf0ad08d23c72dd195db2633c
  5. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <9f3ccdc3f6ef10084ceb3a47df0961bec6196fd0
  6. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <a02e1404e27855089d2b0a0acc4652c2ce65fe46
  7. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <d1962f263a176f493400b8f91bfbf2bfedce951e
  8. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <d2cb2bf39a6d17ef4bdc0e59c1a35cf5751ad8f4
  9. Affected versionversion=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <e79ff8c68acb1eddf709d3ac84716868f2a91012

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.23; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <292d2ac61fb0d9276a0f7b7ce4f50426f2a1c99f; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <975774ea7528b489930b76a77ffc4d5379b95ff2; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <9f329d0d6c91142cf0ad08d23c72dd195db2633c; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <9f3ccdc3f6ef10084ceb3a47df0961bec6196fd0; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <a02e1404e27855089d2b0a0acc4652c2ce65fe46; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <d1962f263a176f493400b8f91bfbf2bfedce951e; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <d2cb2bf39a6d17ef4bdc0e59c1a35cf5751ad8f4; version=5a6eb676d3bc4d7a6feab200a92437b62ad298da <e79ff8c68acb1eddf709d3ac84716868f2a91012

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS: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

CWE-665Improper Initialization
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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