CVE-2022-22265Known exploitation

Kernel code execution via NPU double free

Published Jan 7, 2022 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Samsung Mobile Devices' NPU driver double free before SMR Jan-2022 Release 1 allows local users to execute kernel code. vb_queue_s_format frees q->format.formats after an invalid format fails lookup but leaves the pointer live, so stream-off cleanup frees it again. Exploitation requires access to /dev/vertex10; untrusted apps had that access in early 2021 and used the flaw to gain arbitrary kernel read and write.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Samsung Mobile Devices' NPU driver double free before SMR Jan-2022 Release 1 allows local users to execute kernel code. vb_queue_s_format frees q->format.formats after an invalid format fails lookup but leaves the pointer live, so stream-off cleanup frees it again. Exploitation requires access to /dev/vertex10; untrusted apps had that access in early 2021 and used the flaw to gain arbitrary kernel read and write.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-22265
Published
Jan 7, 2022
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-703, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 7, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record 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=O(8.x), P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0), S(12.0) <SMR Jan-2022 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=O(8.x), P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0), S(12.0) <SMR Jan-2022 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

5.0Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-703Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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