CVE-2022-2503Public exploit

Arbitrary kernel execution via dm-verity target replacement

Published Aug 12, 2022 · Updated Apr 21, 2025

Protection bypass in the Linux Kernel allows local users with root access to execute arbitrary kernel code through a dm-verity reload. Device Mapper permits an active verity target to be replaced with an equivalent linear target, while LoadPin continues trusting the unchanged superblock and accepts unverified modules or firmware. The path requires a root shell or control of existing dmsetup invocations; filesystem changes survive only until reboot, while unsigned peripheral firmware can persist.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Protection bypass in the Linux Kernel allows local users with root access to execute arbitrary kernel code through a dm-verity reload. Device Mapper permits an active verity target to be replaced with an equivalent linear target, while LoadPin continues trusting the unchanged superblock and accepts unverified modules or firmware. The path requires a root shell or control of existing dmsetup invocations; filesystem changes survive only until reboot, while unsigned peripheral firmware can persist.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2503
Published
Aug 12, 2022
Updated
Apr 21, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-287, T1562.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 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=unspecified <4caae58406f8ceb741603eee460d79bacca9b1b5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=unspecified <4caae58406f8ceb741603eee460d79bacca9b1b5

Published CVSS scores

6.7NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
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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