CVE-2022-2977

Local privilege escalation via vTPM device teardown

Published Sep 14, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

A use-after-free in the Linux kernel before 5.18 allows local users to escalate privileges through a configured virtual TPM proxy. The /dev/vtpmx teardown path reaches put_device() after the proxied TPM device lifetime has ended, causing a read from freed kernel memory. Exploitation requires local access and a configured virtualized TPM device, which is not enabled by default, and can yield elevated privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A use-after-free in the Linux kernel before 5.18 allows local users to escalate privileges through a configured virtual TPM proxy. The /dev/vtpmx teardown path reaches put_device() after the proxied TPM device lifetime has ended, causing a read from freed kernel memory. Exploitation requires local access and a configured virtualized TPM device, which is not enabled by default, and can yield elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2977
Published
Sep 14, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 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 versions prior to 5.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Linux kernel versions prior to 5.18

Published CVSS scores

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.

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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
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.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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