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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-46939

🗓️ 09 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 1 Views

Linux unpatched CVE-2021-46939: restructure trace_clock_global to avoid blocking and deadlocks.

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Code
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
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  script_version("1.10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/05/21");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-46939");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-46939");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - tracing: Restructure trace_clock_global() to never block It was reported that a fix to the ring buffer
    recursion detection would cause a hung machine when performing suspend / resume testing. The following
    backtrace was extracted from debugging that case: Call Trace: trace_clock_global+0x91/0xa0
    __rb_reserve_next+0x237/0x460 ring_buffer_lock_reserve+0x12a/0x3f0 trace_buffer_lock_reserve+0x10/0x50
    __trace_graph_return+0x1f/0x80 trace_graph_return+0xb7/0xf0 ? trace_clock_global+0x91/0xa0
    ftrace_return_to_handler+0x8b/0xf0 ? pv_hash+0xa0/0xa0 return_to_handler+0x15/0x30 ?
    ftrace_graph_caller+0xa0/0xa0 ? trace_clock_global+0x91/0xa0 ? __rb_reserve_next+0x237/0x460 ?
    ring_buffer_lock_reserve+0x12a/0x3f0 ? trace_event_buffer_lock_reserve+0x3c/0x120 ?
    trace_event_buffer_reserve+0x6b/0xc0 ? trace_event_raw_event_device_pm_callback_start+0x125/0x2d0 ?
    dpm_run_callback+0x3b/0xc0 ? pm_ops_is_empty+0x50/0x50 ? platform_get_irq_byname_optional+0x90/0x90 ?
    trace_device_pm_callback_start+0x82/0xd0 ? dpm_run_callback+0x49/0xc0 With the following RIP: RIP:
    0010:native_queued_spin_lock_slowpath+0x69/0x200 Since the fix to the recursion detection would allow a
    single recursion to happen while tracing, this lead to the trace_clock_global() taking a spin lock and
    then trying to take it again: ring_buffer_lock_reserve() { trace_clock_global() { arch_spin_lock() {
    queued_spin_lock_slowpath() { /* lock taken */ (something else gets traced by function graph tracer)
    ring_buffer_lock_reserve() { trace_clock_global() { arch_spin_lock() { queued_spin_lock_slowpath() { /*
    DEAD LOCK! */ Tracing should *never* block, as it can lead to strange lockups like the above. Restructure
    the trace_clock_global() code to instead of simply taking a lock to update the recorded prev_time simply
    use it, as two events happening on two different CPUs that calls this at the same time, really doesn't
    matter which one goes first. Use a trylock to grab the lock for updating the prev_time, and if it fails,
    simply try again the next time. If it failed to be taken, that means something else is already updating
    it. Bugzilla: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=212761 (CVE-2021-46939)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-46939");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2021-46939");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2022/01/28");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/09");

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  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-14.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-24.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-extra-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-libc-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-source-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-3.13.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic-lpae"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-lowlatency"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-edge"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-cloud-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-edge"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke-4.15"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke-5.4"},
          {"reference": "linux-gkeop-5.4"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-edge"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-azure"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-oem"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-fde"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke-5.15"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-intel-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-libc-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.14"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-headers-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-host"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-raspi2"},
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          {"reference": "linux-riscv-5.8"},
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          {"reference": "linux-riscv-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-oem"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-allwinner-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-fde-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-fde-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-intel-iot-realtime"},
          {"reference": "linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-nvidia-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.17-headers-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.17-tools-5.17.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.17-tools-host"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-6.1"},
          {"reference": "linux-realtime"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-headers-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-tools-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-starfive-5.19"},
          {"reference": "linux-starfive-6.2"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.17.0"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-raspi-realtime"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_NOTE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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21 May 2026 00:00Current
6.8Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.8
CVSS 3.15.5
EPSS0.00011
SSVC
1