# CVE-2021-46973: net: qrtr: Avoid potential use after free in MHI send

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's QRTR MHI send function allows attackers to potentially execute code or cause a denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-46973, GHSA-pwwc-8qxc-5w7f, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-46973

## What is CVE-2021-46973?

CVE-2021-46973 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: qrtr: Avoid potential use after free in MHI send

It is possible that the MHI ul_callback will be invoked immediately
following the queueing of the skb for transmission, leading to the
callback decrementing the refcount of the associated sk and freeing the
skb.

As such the dereference of skb and the increment of the sk refcount must
happen before the skb is queued, to avoid the skb to be used after free
and potentially the sk to drop its last refcount..

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-46973?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-46973?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-46973 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-46973 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-46973 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-46973 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-46973 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-46973/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-46973/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-46973
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-46973
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-46973

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-46973/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.