NVD / CVE Program· CNA vmware

CVE-2022-22942: The vmwgfx driver contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows unprivileged users to gain access to files opened by other

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Plan (action score 40/100)

A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
Because a ready-made attack tool exists, priority is at least “Plan”.
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 2.5% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 85.1% of all records.
Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
Fixed version: kernel-tools-libs-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.0-348.20.1.el8_5; linux (Debian:11) 5.10.92-2; linux (Debian:12) 5.15.15-2.
Mentioned 4 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to kernel-tools-libs-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.0-348.20.1.el8_5; linux (Debian:11) 5.10.92-2; linux (Debian:12) 5.15.15-2 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

The vmwgfx driver contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows unprivileged users to gain access to files opened by other processes on the system through a dangling 'file' pointer.

HighCVSS 7.8 · v3.1—Weaponized Fix available

Published: Dec 13, 2023
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
EPSS: 2.5% · 85th percentile
CWE: CWE-416

Report tools

JSON

Action score

Plan

Add it to your regular patch cycle.

CVSS: 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
CISA KEV: 0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS: 1 / 30 · 2.5%
Ready-made attack tool: 8 / 40 · floor: at least 40

CNA vs NVD score

NVD: 7.8
CNA · vmware: 7.8; agree

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Get told when this record changes

Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
Weaponized exploit exists
A fix has been released

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

Vendor	Product	CPE
vmware	photon os	cpe:2.3:o:vmware:photon_os

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

vmware photon os3.0
vmware photon os4.0

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (vmware). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

n/a Photon OS
- 3.0, 4.0affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

Ecosystem	Package	Affected range	Fix
AlmaLinux:8	kernel-tools-libs-devel	before 4.18.0-348.20.1.el8_5	4.18.0-348.20.1.el8_5
Debian:11	linux	before 5.10.92-2	5.10.92-2
Debian:12	linux	before 5.15.15-2	5.15.15-2
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	dtb-aarch64	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-64kb	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-azure	before 5.3.18-150300.38.40.4	5.3.18-150300.38.40.4
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-debug	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-default	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-default-base	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1.150300.18.31.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1.150300.18.31.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-docs	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-kvmsmall	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-obs-build	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-obs-qa	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-preempt	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-source	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-source-azure	before 5.3.18-150300.38.40.4	5.3.18-150300.38.40.4
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-syms	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-syms-azure	before 5.3.18-150300.38.40.1	5.3.18-150300.38.40.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3	kernel-zfcpdump	before 5.3.18-150300.59.49.1	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1
openSUSE:Tumbleweed	kernel-source	before 5.16.4-1.1	5.16.4-1.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client	bpftool	before 0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7	0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client	bpftool-debuginfo	before 0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7	0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client	kernel	before 0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7	0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client	kernel-abi-whitelists	before 0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7	0:3.10.0-1160.59.1.el7

+96

Same product

vmware: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

CVE-2016-5333VMware Photos OS OVA 1.0 before 2016-08-14 has a default SSH public key in an authorized_keys file, which allows remote attackers to obtain
40Plan
CVE-2021-22055The SchedulerServer in Vmware photon allows remote attackers to inject logs through \r in the package parameter.
21Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / package	Fixed version	Source
almalinux:kernel-tools-libs-devel	4.18.0-348.20.1.el8_5 · AlmaLinux:8	Package registry (OSV)
debian:linux	5.15.15-2 · Debian:12	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:dtb-aarch64	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-64kb	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-azure	5.3.18-150300.38.40.4 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-debug	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default-base	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1.150300.18.31.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-docs	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-kvmsmall	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-build	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-qa	5.3.18-150300.59.49.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source-azure	5.3.18-150300.38.40.4 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms-azure	5.3.18-150300.38.40.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_21_1	0:1-9.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_21_1-debuginfo	0:1-9.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_24_1	0:1-7.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_24_1-debuginfo	0:1-7.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_25_1	0:1-7.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_25_1-debuginfo	0:1-7.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_31_1	0:1-6.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_31_1-debuginfo	0:1-6.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_36_2	0:1-5.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_36_2-debuginfo	0:1-5.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_41_1	0:1-4.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
red hat:kpatch-patch-3_10_0-1160_41_1-debuginfo	0:1-4.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server	Package registry (OSV)
rocky linux:kernel	0:4.18.0-348.20.1.el8_5 · Rocky Linux:8	Package registry (OSV)
rocky linux:kernel-rt	0:4.18.0-348.20.1.rt7.150.el8_5 · Rocky Linux:8	Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure	5.3.18-150300.38.40.4 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP3	Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default	4.12.14-122.110.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP5	Package registry (OSV)

+10

Exploit status

Weaponized

A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.

Evidence

Metasploit module ×1

Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.

Public exploit evidence
Source	Kind	Date
Metasploit module	exploit/linux/local/vmwgfx_fd_priv_escvmwgfx Driver File Descriptor Handling Priv Escexploit	2022-01-28

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

MetasploitJan 28, 2022-684 d
PublishedDec 13, 2023
TodayNov 5, 2026+1059 d

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)

Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.

TR-22-0222 · Mar 15, 2022(RedHat Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
TR-22-0217 · Mar 11, 2022(RedHat Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
TR-22-0211 · Mar 9, 2022(Linux Kernel Zafiyeti)
TR-22-0167 · Feb 23, 2022(RedHat Güvenlik Güncellemesi)

All national notices →

Technical details

Attack conditions

Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
A low-privileged account is enough.
No user action is required.
No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality: high · data can be read
Integrity: high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability: high · the service can be disrupted

Attack vector: Local
Attack complexity: Low
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality impact: High
Integrity impact: High
Availability impact: High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-416 · Use After Free

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

nvd-primary

Root cause

After a memory region is freed, another reference pointing to it is still used. By then, the same region may have been allocated for different data.

The bug in code

The whole CWE-416 class

A representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.

Vulnerable

1free(dev->buf);
2/* ... another thread is still running ... */
3process(dev->buf);

Fixed

1lock(&dev->lock);
2free(dev->buf);
3dev->buf = NULL;
4unlock(&dev->lock);

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

Change log

Fix✗ → ✓Sep 28, 2026, 10:45 PM UTC

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

github.com/vmware/photon/wiki/Security-Update-3.0-356

Show all references (2 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records