CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-1011NVD status: Analyzed

kernel: Use After Free

CVE-2022-1011 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in kernel, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected kernel versions: Linux kernel 5.16-rc8. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.17% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 68% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux Kernel to 4.9.320 or 4.14.276 or 4.19.238 or 5.4.185, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on git.kernel.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
KernelkernelLinux kernel 5.16-rc8Not stated
LinuxLinux Kernel2.6.35 up to, but not including, 4.9.320; 4.10 up to, but not including, 4.14.276; 4.15 up to, but not including, 4.19.238; 4.20 up to, but not including, 5.4.185; 5.5 up to, but not including, 5.10.106; 5.11 up to, but not including, 5.15.29; 5.16 up to, but not including, 5.16.15; 5.174.9.320, 4.14.276, 4.19.238, 5.4.185, 5.10.106, 5.15.29
Fedora ProjectFedora34; 35Not stated
Red HatBuild Of Quarkus2.0Not stated
Red HatDeveloper Tools1.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux6.0; 7.0; 8.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux EUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For IBM Z Systems8.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For IBM Z Systems EUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For Power Little Endian8.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For Power Little Endian EUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For Real Time8Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For Real Time For Nfv8Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For Real Time For Nfv TUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux For Real Time TUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server AUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server For Power Little Endian Update Services For SAP Solutions8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server TUS8.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server Update Services For SAP Solutions8.6Not stated
Red HatVirtualization Host4.0Not stated
Red HatCodeready Linux BuilderNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppH300s FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppH500s FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppH700s FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppH300e FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 6 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD
CVSS 2.04.6MediumNVD

Official description

A use-after-free flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s FUSE filesystem in the way a user triggers write(). This flaw allows a local user to gain unauthorized access to data from the FUSE filesystem, resulting in privilege escalation.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use After Free

The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
  • When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.

More Use After Free vulnerabilities (CWE-416)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in kernel

All kernel vulnerabilities

Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities

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