Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2022-48783 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in 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 f48bd34137718042872d06f2c7332b3267a29165, df2495f329b08ac0d0d3e6334a01955ae839005e, c61f599b8d33adfa256126a6695c734c0de331cb as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.23% 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 to f48bd34137718042872d06f2c7332b3267a29165 or df2495f329b08ac0d0d3e6334a01955ae839005e or c61f599b8d33adfa256126a6695c734c0de331cb or 8c6ae46150a453f8ae9a6cd49b45f354f478587d, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | e177d2e85ebcd3008c4b2abc293f4118e04eedef up to, but not including, f48bd34137718042872d06f2c7332b3267a29165; b5652bc50dde7b84e93dfb25479b64b817e377c1 up to, but not including, df2495f329b08ac0d0d3e6334a01955ae839005e; 2443ba2fe396bdde187a2fdfa6a57375643ae93c up to, but not including, c61f599b8d33adfa256126a6695c734c0de331cb; 0d120dfb5d67edc5bcd1804e167dba2b30809afd up to, but not including, 8c6ae46150a453f8ae9a6cd49b45f354f478587d; 5.10.101 up to, but not including, 5.10.102; 5.15.24 up to, but not including, 5.15.25; 5.16.10 up to, but not including, 5.16.11 | f48bd34137718042872d06f2c7332b3267a29165, df2495f329b08ac0d0d3e6334a01955ae839005e, c61f599b8d33adfa256126a6695c734c0de331cb, 8c6ae46150a453f8ae9a6cd49b45f354f478587d, 5.10.102, 5.15.25 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.10.101; 5.15.24; 5.16.10 | 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
- 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.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: dsa: lantiq_gswip: fix use after free in gswip_remove() of_node_put(priv->ds->slave_mii_bus->dev.of_node) should be done before mdiobus_free(priv->ds->slave_mii_bus).
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.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c6ae46150a453f8ae9a6cd49b45f354f478587dMailing List
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c61f599b8d33adfa256126a6695c734c0de331cbMailing List
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/df2495f329b08ac0d0d3e6334a01955ae839005eMailing List
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f48bd34137718042872d06f2c7332b3267a29165Mailing List
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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