Kernel: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2022-1671 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Kernel, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 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 version prior to kernel 5.18 rc1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.31% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.15.33 or 5.16.19 or 5.17.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kernel | Kernel | Linux kernel version prior to kernel 5.18 rc1 | Not stated |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.11 up to, but not including, 5.15.33; 5.16 up to, but not including, 5.16.19; 5.17 up to, but not including, 5.17.2 | 5.15.33, 5.16.19, 5.17.2 |
| NetApp | H300s Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| NetApp | H500s Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| NetApp | H700s Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| NetApp | H410s Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| NetApp | H410c Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. 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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- 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:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
Official description
A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in rxrpc_preparse_s in net/rxrpc/server_key.c in the Linux kernel. This flaw allows a local attacker to crash the system or leak internal kernel information.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
- Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ff8376ade4f668130385839cef586a0990f8ef87Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
Third-party and government advisories
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220901-0004/Third Party Advisory
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220901-0008/Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Kernel
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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