# CVE-2021-46974: bpf: Fix masking negation logic upon negative dst register

> Incorrect masking logic in the Linux kernel BPF verifier allows attackers to bypass bounds checks, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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-2021-46974, GHSA-78xq-q56p-fpwx, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-46974

## What is CVE-2021-46974?

CVE-2021-46974 is a high-severity 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:

bpf: Fix masking negation logic upon negative dst register

The negation logic for the case where the off_reg is sitting in the
dst register is not correct given then we cannot just invert the add
to a sub or vice versa. As a fix, perform the final bitwise and-op
unconditionally into AX from the off_reg, then move the pointer from
the src to dst and finally use AX as the source for the original
pointer arithmetic operation such that the inversion yields a correct
result. The single non-AX mov in between is possible given constant
blinding is retaining it as it's not an immediate based operation.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-46974?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-46974?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-46974 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-46974 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-2021-46974 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-46974 is a high-severity 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-2021-46974 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-2021-46974/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-46974/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-46974
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-46974
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-46974

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-46974/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.