CVE-2022-41290

Local root escalation via rm_rlcache_file command

Published Dec 23, 2022 · Updated Apr 10, 2025

Privilege escalation in IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 allows local users to obtain root privileges through rm_rlcache_file. The command is the named vulnerable locus, but IBM has not published the incorrect operation it performs or the input needed to trigger it. Exploitation requires local command execution by a non-privileged account and results in full root control of the affected AIX host.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 allows local users to obtain root privileges through rm_rlcache_file. The command is the named vulnerable locus, but IBM has not published the incorrect operation it performs or the input needed to trigger it. Exploitation requires local command execution by a non-privileged account and results in full root control of the affected AIX host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-41290
Published
Dec 23, 2022
Updated
Apr 10, 2025
Vendor
IBM
Product
AIX
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 23, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 10, 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=7.1, 7.2, 7.3, VIOS 3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · AIXversion=7.1, 7.2, 7.3, VIOS 3.1

Published CVSS scores

8.4IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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