CVE-2022-3541

Kernel-memory disclosure via freed MAC buffer

Published Oct 17, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

A read-after-free in Linux kernel 5.19 through 5.19.16 and 6.0 through 6.0.2 allows local users to expose kernel memory via the Sunplus driver. The spl2sw_nvmem_get_mac_address function frees the MAC-address buffer before dev_info formats it when NVMEM supplies an invalid address. Reachability requires the Sunplus SP7021 driver to process an invalid NVMEM MAC during device initialization, and disclosure is limited to bytes read from the freed buffer into the kernel log.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A read-after-free in Linux kernel 5.19 through 5.19.16 and 6.0 through 6.0.2 allows local users to expose kernel memory via the Sunplus driver. The spl2sw_nvmem_get_mac_address function frees the MAC-address buffer before dev_info formats it when NVMEM supplies an invalid address. Reachability requires the Sunplus SP7021 driver to process an invalid NVMEM MAC during device initialization, and disclosure is limited to bytes read from the freed buffer into the kernel log.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3541
Published
Oct 17, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-119
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 17, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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