CVE-2022-48720

Kernel memory corruption via incomplete MACsec teardown

Published Jun 20, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Resource cleanup failure in affected Linux kernel versions allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via MACsec hardware-offload teardown. The NETDEV_UNREGISTER handler frees MACsec software objects without invoking the underlay driver's deletion callback, leaving driver-held pointers to released SecY and association state. Creating the offloaded link and unregistering or moving its lower device requires CAP_NET_ADMIN and capable hardware; later driver activity can disclose or modify kernel memory or crash the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource cleanup failure in affected Linux kernel versions allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via MACsec hardware-offload teardown. The NETDEV_UNREGISTER handler frees MACsec software objects without invoking the underlay driver's deletion callback, leaving driver-held pointers to released SecY and association state. Creating the offloaded link and unregistering or moving its lower device requires CAP_NET_ADMIN and capable hardware; later driver activity can disclose or modify kernel memory or crash the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-48720
Published
Jun 20, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 20, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 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=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <2e7f5b6ee1a7a2c628253a95b0a95b582901ef1b
  2. Affected versionversion=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <8299be160aad8548071d080518712dec0df92bd5
  3. Affected versionversion=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <9cef24c8b76c1f6effe499d2f131807c90f7ce9a
  4. Affected versionversion=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <e7a0b3a0806dae3cc81931f0e83055ca2ac6f455
  5. Affected versionversion=5.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <2e7f5b6ee1a7a2c628253a95b0a95b582901ef1b; version=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <8299be160aad8548071d080518712dec0df92bd5; version=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <9cef24c8b76c1f6effe499d2f131807c90f7ce9a; version=3cf3227a21d1fb020fe26128e60321bd2151e922 <e7a0b3a0806dae3cc81931f0e83055ca2ac6f455; version=5.6

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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