CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-23222NVD status: Modified

Linux Kernel: NULL Pointer Dereference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-23222 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Linux Kernel from Linux, 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. The record lists versions 5.15.37, 5.16.11 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux Kernel to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.03% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 81% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux Kernel to 5.15.37 or 5.16.11, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinux Kernel5.8.0 up to, but not including, 5.15.37; 5.16 up to, but not including, 5.16.115.15.37, 5.16.11
DebianDebian Linux11.0Not stated
NetAppH410c FirmwareNot 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
NetAppH500e FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppH700e FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppH410s FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
Fedora ProjectFedora34; 35Not stated

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. 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 2.07.2HighNVD

Official description

kernel/bpf/verifier.c in the Linux kernel through 5.15.14 allows local users to gain privileges because of the availability of pointer arithmetic via certain *_OR_NULL pointer types.

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.

More NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-476)

Timeline

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

References

Third-party and government advisories

Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)

Other vulnerabilities in Linux Kernel

All Linux Kernel vulnerabilities

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