CVE-2022-42720Public exploit

Code execution via BSS reference mismanagement

Published Oct 13, 2022 · Updated May 15, 2025

Use-after-free flaws in Linux kernel 5.1 through 5.19.x before 5.19.16 allow local users to execute code via crafted WLAN frames. In net/wireless/scan.c, bss_ref_get overwrites a BSS pointer before checking the transmitted BSS; cfg80211_bss_update copies and later unreferences a transmitted_bss pointer, while cfg80211_inform_single_bss_data returns an unreferenced entry after list insertion fails. Reachability requires malformed multi-BSSID beacon-frame injection into the wireless stack; the public demonstration triggers kernel use-after-free, not arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free flaws in Linux kernel 5.1 through 5.19.x before 5.19.16 allow local users to execute code via crafted WLAN frames. In net/wireless/scan.c, bss_ref_get overwrites a BSS pointer before checking the transmitted BSS; cfg80211_bss_update copies and later unreferences a transmitted_bss pointer, while cfg80211_inform_single_bss_data returns an unreferenced entry after list insertion fails. Reachability requires malformed multi-BSSID beacon-frame injection into the wireless stack; the public demonstration triggers kernel use-after-free, not arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-42720
Published
Oct 13, 2022
Updated
May 15, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 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?

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

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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