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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2022-49257: watch_queue: Fix NULL dereference in error cleanup

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 112a2f9b0a8457794095a0450598f150724ec456, 5ae75b4ed30322b42abaa75ef1b784addfdb7dc9, 695c47cea02b9101e2fc2e7d36d552128592b347.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 112a2f9b0a8457794095a0450598f150724ec456, 5ae75b4ed30322b42abaa75ef1b784addfdb7dc9, 695c47cea02b9101e2fc2e7d36d552128592b347 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: Fix NULL dereference in error cleanup In watch_queue_set_size(), the error cleanup code doesn't take account of the fact that __free_page() can't handle a NULL pointer when trying to free up buffer pages that did get allocated. Fix this by only calling __free_page() on the pages actually allocated. Without the fix, this can lead to something like the following: BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in __free_pages+0x1f/0x1b0 mm/page_alloc.c:5473 Read of size 4 at addr 0000000000000034 by task syz-executor168/3599 ... Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:88 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0xcd/0x134 lib/dump_stack.c:106 __kasan_report mm/kasan/report.c:446 [inline] kasan_report.cold+0x66/0xdf mm/kasan/report.c:459 check_region_inline mm/kasan/generic.c:183 [inline] kasan_check_range+0x13d/0x180 mm/kasan/generic.c:189 instrument_atomic_read include/linux/instrumented.h:71 [inline] atomic_read include/linux/atomic/atomic-instrumented.h:27 [inline] page_ref_count include/linux/page_ref.h:67 [inline] put_page_testzero include/linux/mm.h:717 [inline] __free_pages+0x1f/0x1b0 mm/page_alloc.c:5473 watch_queue_set_size+0x499/0x630 kernel/watch_queue.c:275 pipe_ioctl+0xac/0x2b0 fs/pipe.c:632 vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline] __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:874 [inline] __se_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:860 [inline] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x193/0x200 fs/ioctl.c:860 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x35/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xae

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Nov 5, 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%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

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When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
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  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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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 5ae75b4ed30322b42abaa75ef1b784addfdb7dc9affected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before 695c47cea02b9101e2fc2e7d36d552128592b347affected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before 112a2f9b0a8457794095a0450598f150724ec456affected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before b6f5ad3e45d19f9c4ee3e8a2aff829f28d68591daffected · git
    • c73be61cede5882f9605a852414db559c0ebedfd and later · before a635415a064e77bcfbf43da413fd9dfe0bbed9cbaffected · 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-2022-49220Feb 26, 2025 · dax: make sure inodes are flushed before destroy cache
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2022-49256Feb 26, 2025 · watch_queue: Actually free the watch
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2022-49262Feb 26, 2025 · crypto: octeontx2 - remove CONFIG_DM_CRYPT check
    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 Linux112a2f9b0a8457794095a0450598f150724ec456Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux5ae75b4ed30322b42abaa75ef1b784addfdb7dc9Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux695c47cea02b9101e2fc2e7d36d552128592b347Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxa635415a064e77bcfbf43da413fd9dfe0bbed9cbVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxb6f5ad3e45d19f9c4ee3e8a2aff829f28d68591dVendor (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.

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).

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-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

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. SSVC exploitation— → none
  2. 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