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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2022-49256: watch_queue: Actually free the watch

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.26% (FIRST EPSS).
  • 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: Linux Linux 31824613a42aacdcbeb325bf07a1c8247a11ebe2, 3d8dcf278b1ee1eff1e90be848fa2237db4c07a7, 7e8c9b0df07a77f0d072603b8ced2677e30e1893.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 31824613a42aacdcbeb325bf07a1c8247a11ebe2, 3d8dcf278b1ee1eff1e90be848fa2237db4c07a7, 7e8c9b0df07a77f0d072603b8ced2677e30e1893 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

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: watch_queue: Actually free the watch free_watch() does everything barring actually freeing the watch object. Fix this by adding the missing kfree. kmemleak produces a report something like the following. Note that as an address can be seen in the first word, the watch would appear to have gone through call_rcu(). BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff88810ce4a200 (size 96): comm "syz-executor352", pid 3605, jiffies 4294947473 (age 13.720s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): e0 82 48 0d 81 88 ff ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..H............. 80 a2 e4 0c 81 88 ff ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: [<ffffffff8214e6cc>] kmalloc include/linux/slab.h:581 [inline] [<ffffffff8214e6cc>] kzalloc include/linux/slab.h:714 [inline] [<ffffffff8214e6cc>] keyctl_watch_key+0xec/0x2e0 security/keys/keyctl.c:1800 [<ffffffff8214ec84>] __do_sys_keyctl+0x3c4/0x490 security/keys/keyctl.c:2016 [<ffffffff84493a25>] do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] [<ffffffff84493a25>] do_syscall_64+0x35/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 [<ffffffff84600068>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xae

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
0.2% · 17th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.2%

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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.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel

Affected versions

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

  • linux linux kernel5.8 and later · before 5.10.110
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.15.33
  • linux linux kernel5.16 and later · before 5.16.19
  • linux linux kernel5.17 and later · before 5.17.2

Versions reported by the vendor

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

  • Linux Linux

    • 5.8affected
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before 9d92be1a09fbb3dd65600dbfe7eedb40e7228e4baffected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before f69aecb49968e14196366bbe896eab0a904229f5affected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before 7e8c9b0df07a77f0d072603b8ced2677e30e1893affected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before 31824613a42aacdcbeb325bf07a1c8247a11ebe2affected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before 3d8dcf278b1ee1eff1e90be848fa2237db4c07a7affected · git
    • before 5.8not affected · semver
    • 5.10.110 and later · up to and including 5.10.*not affected · semver
    • 5.15.33 and later · up to and including 5.15.*not affected · semver
    • 5.16.19 and later · up to and including 5.16.*not affected · semver

Package-level exposure

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

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 5.17.3-15.17.3-1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreambpftool-debuginfobefore 0:7.2.0-362.8.1.el9_30:7.2.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-64k-debug-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-64k-debug-develbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-64k-debug-devel-matchedbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-64k-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-64k-develbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-64k-devel-matchedbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debug-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debug-develbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debug-devel-matchedbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64before 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64lebefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debuginfo-common-s390xbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64before 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-develbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-devel-matchedbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-docbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-tools-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-zfcpdump-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-zfcpdump-develbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamkernel-zfcpdump-devel-matchedbefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamlibperf-debuginfobefore 0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_30:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3

+55

Same product

linux: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV
    89Now
  • CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV
    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2022-49254Feb 26, 2025 · media: ti-vpe: cal: Fix a NULL pointer dereference in cal_ctx_v4l2_init_formats()
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2022-49255Feb 26, 2025 · f2fs: fix missing free nid in f2fs_handle_failed_inode
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2022-49257Feb 26, 2025 · watch_queue: Fix NULL dereference in error cleanup
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

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

Product / packageFixed versionSource
Linux Linux31824613a42aacdcbeb325bf07a1c8247a11ebe2Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux3d8dcf278b1ee1eff1e90be848fa2237db4c07a7Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux7e8c9b0df07a77f0d072603b8ced2677e30e1893Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux9d92be1a09fbb3dd65600dbfe7eedb40e7228e4bVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxf69aecb49968e14196366bbe896eab0a904229f5Vendor (CNA)
debian:linux5.17.3-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
red hat:bpftool-debuginfo0:7.2.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debug-debuginfo0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debug-devel0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debuginfo0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-devel0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-devel-matched0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-debuginfo0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-devel0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-devel-matched0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo0:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch640:5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

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.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

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).

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
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-401 · Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

CVSS vector

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

nvd-primary

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

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

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

References

Show all references (4 more)

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

All records