CVE-2022-0487

Kernel memory disclosure via freed memstick host

Published Feb 4, 2022 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Use-after-free in the Linux Kernel memstick driver before 5.14-rc1 allows local users to disclose kernel memory during device removal. The rtsx_usb_ms_drv_remove function frees its memstick host before disabling runtime power management and issuing a debug access through the freed host. Reachability requires local access to remove a Realtek USB Memory Stick controller while the affected driver is active; the published impact is limited to confidentiality.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.42%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux Kernel memstick driver before 5.14-rc1 allows local users to disclose kernel memory during device removal. The rtsx_usb_ms_drv_remove function frees its memstick host before disabling runtime power management and issuing a debug access through the freed host. Reachability requires local access to remove a Realtek USB Memory Stick controller while the affected driver is active; the published impact is limited to confidentiality.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0487
Published
Feb 4, 2022
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=kernel 5.14 rc1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=kernel 5.14 rc1

Published CVSS scores

2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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