CVE-2022-1516

Local system crash via X.25 teardown race

Published May 5, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel X.25 networking allows local users to crash the system through concurrent session teardown. x25_disconnect clears the shared x25->neighbour pointer while x25_sendmsg, x25_recvmsg, or x25_connect can still dereference it because teardown lacks socket locking. Exploitation requires local access, an X.25 session over a simulated Ethernet device, and a concurrent socket operation during link termination; success crashes the host.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel X.25 networking allows local users to crash the system through concurrent session teardown. x25_disconnect clears the shared x25->neighbour pointer while x25_sendmsg, x25_recvmsg, or x25_connect can still dereference it because teardown lacks socket locking. Exploitation requires local access, an X.25 session over a simulated Ethernet device, and a concurrent socket operation during link termination; success crashes the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-1516
Published
May 5, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 5, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=Linux kernel 5.18-rc1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Linux kernel 5.18-rc1

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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