CVE-2022-46343Network attack vector

Code execution via stale screen saver resource

Published Dec 14, 2022 · Updated Apr 22, 2025

Use-after-free in X.Org Server 1.20.4 allows local users to execute code as root through ScreenSaverSetAttributes requests. A second request frees the prior ScreenSaverAttrRec without removing it from the client's resources, so client teardown operates on the stale object. Low-privileged code can escalate when the X server is privileged; remote authenticated users can execute code through SSH X forwarding.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.37%
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 in X.Org Server 1.20.4 allows local users to execute code as root through ScreenSaverSetAttributes requests. A second request frees the prior ScreenSaverAttrRec without removing it from the client's resources, so client teardown operates on the stale object. Low-privileged code can escalate when the X server is privileged; remote authenticated users can execute code through SSH X forwarding.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-46343
Published
Dec 14, 2022
Updated
Apr 22, 2025
Vendor
X.Org
Product
X.Org Server
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 22, 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=xorg-x11-server-1.20.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

X.Org · X.Org Serverversion=xorg-x11-server-1.20.4

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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