CVE-2022-21499

Kernel memory access via lockdown debugger trigger

Published Jun 9, 2022 · Updated Sep 24, 2024

Kernel debugger lockdown bypass in Oracle Linux and Oracle VM allows local users with serial-port access to read or write kernel memory. KGDB and KDB remain usable during lockdown because the debugger trigger path fails to enforce the lockdown restriction, permitting writes such as zeroing a chosen kernel location. Exploitation requires high privileges and direct serial access, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.62%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel debugger lockdown bypass in Oracle Linux and Oracle VM allows local users with serial-port access to read or write kernel memory. KGDB and KDB remain usable during lockdown because the debugger trigger path fails to enforce the lockdown restriction, permitting writes such as zeroing a chosen kernel location. Exploitation requires high privileges and direct serial access, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21499
Published
Jun 9, 2022
Updated
Sep 24, 2024
Vendor
Oracle
Product
Oracle VM
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 24, 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=Oracle VM: 3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Oracle · Oracle VMversion=Oracle VM: 3
Oracle · Oracle Linuxversion=Oracle Linux: 6; version=Oracle Linux: 7; version=Oracle Linux: 8

Published CVSS scores

6.7OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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