CVE-2022-21505Public exploit

Kernel lockdown bypass via unenforced IMA appraisal

Published Dec 24, 2024 · Updated Dec 27, 2024

Kernel lockdown bypass in Oracle Linux 7 through 9 allows local users with high privileges to load an unsigned kernel via kexec. The ima_appraise_signature function treats a log-only KEXEC_IMAGE appraisal as sufficient under lockdown instead of requiring enforcement. The condition requires ima_appraise=log, lockdown without Secure Boot, and administrative control; successful use replaces the trusted kernel.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel lockdown bypass in Oracle Linux 7 through 9 allows local users with high privileges to load an unsigned kernel via kexec. The ima_appraise_signature function treats a log-only KEXEC_IMAGE appraisal as sufficient under lockdown instead of requiring enforcement. The condition requires ima_appraise=log, lockdown without Secure Boot, and administrative control; successful use replaces the trusted kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21505
Published
Dec 24, 2024
Updated
Dec 27, 2024
Vendor
Oracle
Product
Oracle Linux
Classifications
T1562.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 27, 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 Linux: 7
  2. Affected versionversion=Oracle Linux: 8
  3. Affected versionversion=Oracle Linux: 9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Oracle · Oracle Linuxversion=Oracle Linux: 7; version=Oracle Linux: 8; version=Oracle Linux: 9

Published CVSS scores

6.0OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.7UbuntuCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1562.001Impair Defenses Disable or Modify Tools

Public exploit references

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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