CVE-2024-46681 — pktgen: use cpus_read_lock() in pg_net_init()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pktgen: use cpus_read_lock() in pg_net_init() I have seen the WARN_ON(smp_processor_id() != cpu) firing in pktgen_thread_worker() during tests. We must use cpus_read_lock()/cpus_read_unlock() around the for_each_online_cpu(cpu) loop. While we are at it use WARN_ON_ONCE() to avoid a possible syslog flood.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.3% (30-day exploitation probability)+3
- Technical severity (medium)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux, Linux Linux Kernel).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and < 7eed5b3115ce9e057bf64c3f6be9ea72f8298e4e≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and < 5f5f7366dda8ae870e8305d6e7b3c0c2686cd2cf≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and < 979b581e4c69257acab1af415ddad6b2d78a2fa5version 2.6.12 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | ≥ 2.6.12 and < 6.10.8version 6.11-rc1version 6.11-rc2version 6.11-rc3version 6.11-rc4version 6.11-rc5 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 1.8 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 20, 2026 → Oct 27, 2026 · 8 reading(s) · max 0.28%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · linux/linux kernel
- CVSS changed · 5.5
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- 2024
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 21, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 21, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026
References
5 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Unknown CVE-2026-99215 power: supply: core: prevent unregistering a power supply while a callback runs 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-99216 Drivers: hv: Don't reset VMBus connection state on error/exit paths 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-99213 vsock: treat TCP_CLOSING as once-established 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-99207 scsi: target: Disable interrupts while holding delayed_cmd_lock 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-99208 drm/xe/oa: Zero OA buffer at allocation 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-99209 drm/xe: skip eviction of a BO with no resource 11h
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2024-46681 is "pktgen: use cpus_read_lock() in pg_net_init()", rated Medium. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 5.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.28% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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