# CVE-2024-46697: nfsd: ensure that nfsd4_fattr_args.context is zeroed out

> An attacker can cause a kernel crash by triggering an uninitialized memory free in the NFS server, leading to denial of service.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Sep 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-46697, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-46697, GHSA-prj2-h762-9j59, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-46697

## What is CVE-2024-46697?

CVE-2024-46697 is a critical vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 13 Sep 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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

nfsd: ensure that nfsd4_fattr_args.context is zeroed out

If nfsd4_encode_fattr4 ends up doing a "goto out" before we get to
checking for the security label, then args.context will be set to
uninitialized junk on the stack, which we'll then try to free.
Initialize it early.

Weakness: CWE-665 (Improper Initialization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-46697?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-46697?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-46697 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-46697 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-2024-46697 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-46697 is a critical vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 13 Sep 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-46697 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-2024-46697/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-46697/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-46697
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-46697
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-46697

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-46697/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.