CVE-2022-48688

Kernel crash via NULL client-instance dereference

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux i40e driver allows local users to crash the kernel during recursive module removal. After two offline tests trigger an IRDMA initialization timeout, i40e_client_del_instance() frees pf->cinst and sets it to NULL, but i40e_lan_del_device() later dereferences that pointer during i40e removal. Reachability requires an i40e/IRDMA configuration plus permission to run offline interface tests and remove the dependent kernel modules; the bounded result is a kernel crash.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux i40e driver allows local users to crash the kernel during recursive module removal. After two offline tests trigger an IRDMA initialization timeout, i40e_client_del_instance() frees pf->cinst and sets it to NULL, but i40e_lan_del_device() later dereferences that pointer during i40e removal. Reachability requires an i40e/IRDMA configuration plus permission to run offline interface tests and remove the dependent kernel modules; the bounded result is a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-48688
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record 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=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <2ed94383f3a2693dbf5bc47c514b42524bd8f9ae
  2. Affected versionversion=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <342d77769a6cceb3df7720a1e18baa4339eee3fc
  3. Affected versionversion=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <38af35bec59a8431a1eb29da994a0a45cba275d9
  4. Affected versionversion=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <5332a094514852d5e58c278cf4193adb937337fc
  5. Affected versionversion=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <c49f320e2492738d478bc427dcd54ccfe0cba746
  6. Affected versionversion=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <fb8396aeda5872369a8ed6d2301e2c86e303c520
  7. Affected versionversion=4.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <2ed94383f3a2693dbf5bc47c514b42524bd8f9ae; version=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <342d77769a6cceb3df7720a1e18baa4339eee3fc; version=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <38af35bec59a8431a1eb29da994a0a45cba275d9; version=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <5332a094514852d5e58c278cf4193adb937337fc; version=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <c49f320e2492738d478bc427dcd54ccfe0cba746; version=0ef2d5afb12d379f4dd5df696219a01b88bb778a <fb8396aeda5872369a8ed6d2301e2c86e303c520; version=4.12

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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