# CVE-2021-47646: Revert "Revert "block, bfq: honor already-setup queue merges""

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel BFQ I/O scheduler can cause a system crash, requiring a kernel patch to resolve.

- **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:** 26 Feb 2025
- **Updated:** 11 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-47646, GHSA-8qgg-vj9j-hh4r, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-47646

## What is CVE-2021-47646?

CVE-2021-47646 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Feb 2025. 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:

Revert "Revert "block, bfq: honor already-setup queue merges""

A crash [1] happened to be triggered in conjunction with commit
2d52c58b9c9b ("block, bfq: honor already-setup queue merges"). The
latter was then reverted by commit ebc69e897e17 ("Revert "block, bfq:
honor already-setup queue merges""). Yet, the reverted commit was not
the one introducing the bug. In fact, it actually triggered a UAF
introduced by a different commit, and now fixed by commit d29bd41428cf
("block, bfq: reset last_bfqq_created on group change").

So, there is no point in keeping commit 2d52c58b9c9b ("block, bfq:
honor already-setup queue merges") out. This commit restores it.

[1] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=214503

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-47646?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-47646?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-47646 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-47646 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-2021-47646 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-47646 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Feb 2025. 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-2021-47646 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-2021-47646/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47646/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-47646
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-47646
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-47646

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47646/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.