Local kernel memory corruption via DVB refcount race
Published Sep 21, 2022 · Updated May 28, 2025
Use-after-free in Linux kernel 5.19.10 and earlier allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing USB DVB device removal. dvb_dmxdev_release frees demultiplexer resources after checking stale user counts, while a concurrent dvb_demux_open can increment the count and continue using those resources. Triggering requires access to DVB device nodes, coordinated USB DVB device removal, and race timing; the published proof of concept demonstrates memory misuse and identifies privilege escalation only as a chained outcome involving BPF.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel 5.19.10 and earlier allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing USB DVB device removal. dvb_dmxdev_release frees demultiplexer resources after checking stale user counts, while a concurrent dvb_demux_open can increment the count and continue using those resources. Triggering requires access to DVB device nodes, coordinated USB DVB device removal, and race timing; the published proof of concept demonstrates memory misuse and identifies privilege escalation only as a chained outcome involving BPF.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-41218
- Published
- Sep 21, 2022
- Updated
- May 28, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 21, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 28, 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?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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.
Public exploit references
- oss-security DVB-core race proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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