CVE-2022-41973Public exploit

Local root escalation via symlinked object creation

Published Oct 29, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Symlink following in multipathd in multipath-tools 0.7.7 through 0.9.x before 0.9.2 allows local users to create objects as root. The root-running mark_failed_wwid() path creation follows attacker-controlled symlinks under /dev/shm, placing a fixed-name file or directory at a chosen location. Access to /dev/shm is required, and root escalation depends on chaining this location-only write with additional vulnerable behavior.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.68%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in multipathd in multipath-tools 0.7.7 through 0.9.x before 0.9.2 allows local users to create objects as root. The root-running mark_failed_wwid() path creation follows attacker-controlled symlinks under /dev/shm, placing a fixed-name file or directory at a chosen location. Access to /dev/shm is required, and root escalation depends on chaining this location-only write with additional vulnerable behavior.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-41973
Published
Oct 29, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 29, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.2SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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