CVE-2021-46916: linux kernel vulnerability

What is known

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ixgbe: Fix NULL pointer dereference in ethtool loopback test The ixgbe driver currently generates a NULL pointer dereference when performing the ethtool loopback test. This is due to the fact that there isn't a q_vector associated with the test ring when it is setup as interrupts are not normally added to the test rings. To address this I have added code that will check for a q_vector before returning a napi_id value. If a q_vector is not present it will return a value of 0.

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2021-46916, a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) affecting linux kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether linux kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
• Reference
• Reference