CVE-2022-4378Public exploit

Local code execution via signed length underflow

Published Jan 5, 2023 · Updated Apr 10, 2025

Stack-based buffer overflow in Linux Kernel SYSCTL allows local users to crash the system or execute code via an oversized parameter write. The __do_proc_dointvec path lets proc_skip_spaces scan beyond its one-page limit, producing a negative length that proc_get_long passes to a kernel-stack memcpy. Triggering the flaw requires writable sysctl access and a network namespace, which unprivileged users can obtain where user namespaces are enabled.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Linux Kernel SYSCTL allows local users to crash the system or execute code via an oversized parameter write. The __do_proc_dointvec path lets proc_skip_spaces scan beyond its one-page limit, producing a negative length that proc_get_long passes to a kernel-stack memcpy. Triggering the flaw requires writable sysctl access and a network namespace, which unprivileged users can obtain where user namespaces are enabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4378
Published
Jan 5, 2023
Updated
Apr 10, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-131, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 5, 2023CVE 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=kernel 6.0.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=kernel 6.0.12

Published CVSS scores

7.8CVE.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS: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-131Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size
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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