CVE-2022-48771

Local kernel compromise via stale vmwgfx descriptor

Published Jun 20, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users to access a freed file object through a stale vmwgfx descriptor. The vmwgfx fence-reply path installs the descriptor before copying fence_rep to userspace, then frees the file without clearing the descriptor when that copy fails. Access to the vmwgfx device and a deliberately failing user copy are required, after which the dangling kernel object permits privilege escalation or a system crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
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 affected Linux kernel branches allows local users to access a freed file object through a stale vmwgfx descriptor. The vmwgfx fence-reply path installs the descriptor before copying fence_rep to userspace, then frees the file without clearing the descriptor when that copy fails. Access to the vmwgfx device and a deliberately failing user copy are required, after which the dangling kernel object permits privilege escalation or a system crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-48771
Published
Jun 20, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=4.14
  2. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <0008a0c78fc33a84e2212a7c04e6b21a36ca6f4d
  3. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <1d833b27fb708d6fdf5de9f6b3a8be4bd4321565
  4. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <6066977961fc6f437bc064f628cf9b0e4571c56c
  5. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <84b1259fe36ae0915f3d6ddcea6377779de48b82
  6. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <a0f90c8815706981c483a652a6aefca51a5e191c
  7. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <ae2b20f27732fe92055d9e7b350abc5cdf3e2414
  8. Affected versionversion=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <e8d092a62449dcfc73517ca43963d2b8f44d0516

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.14; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <0008a0c78fc33a84e2212a7c04e6b21a36ca6f4d; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <1d833b27fb708d6fdf5de9f6b3a8be4bd4321565; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <6066977961fc6f437bc064f628cf9b0e4571c56c; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <84b1259fe36ae0915f3d6ddcea6377779de48b82; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <a0f90c8815706981c483a652a6aefca51a5e191c; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <ae2b20f27732fe92055d9e7b350abc5cdf3e2414; version=c906965dee22d5e95d0651759ba107b420212a9f <e8d092a62449dcfc73517ca43963d2b8f44d0516

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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
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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