CVE-2022-3303

Privileged system crash via unlocked PCM synchronization

Published Sep 27, 2022 · Updated May 21, 2025

Improper locking in the Linux kernel before 6.0-rc5 allows local users with root or audio-group access to crash the system via SNDCTL_DSP_SYNC. In snd_pcm_oss_sync(), snd_pcm_oss_make_ready() runs before params_lock is acquired, so concurrent stream reconfiguration leaves OSS buffer state inconsistent and permits a NULL pointer dereference. The ioctl must be issued locally through an OSS PCM device, and successful triggering interrupts availability by crashing the host.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper locking in the Linux kernel before 6.0-rc5 allows local users with root or audio-group access to crash the system via SNDCTL_DSP_SYNC. In snd_pcm_oss_sync(), snd_pcm_oss_make_ready() runs before params_lock is acquired, so concurrent stream reconfiguration leaves OSS buffer state inconsistent and permits a NULL pointer dereference. The ioctl must be issued locally through an OSS PCM device, and successful triggering interrupts availability by crashing the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3303
Published
Sep 27, 2022
Updated
May 21, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-362, CWE-667, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 27, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Fixed in kernel 6.0-rc5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Fixed in kernel 6.0-rc5

Published CVSS scores

4.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 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-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CWE-667Improper Locking
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo