Kernel memory corruption via unchecked symlink length
Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Buffer overflow in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a crafted symlink. The parse_mf_symlink routine parses an untrusted link_len with sscanf and passes the unchecked value to symlink_hash, which can read beyond the fixed link_str buffer. Exploitation requires access to a mounted CIFS share containing a malformed Minshall+French symlink; successful triggering can compromise kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Summary
What happened
Buffer overflow in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a crafted symlink. The parse_mf_symlink routine parses an untrusted link_len with sscanf and passes the unchecked value to symlink_hash, which can read beyond the fixed link_str buffer. Exploitation requires access to a mounted CIFS share containing a malformed Minshall+French symlink; successful triggering can compromise kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-49058
- Published
- Feb 26, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-120, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=2.6.37
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <1316c28569a80ab3596eeab05bf5e01991e7e739
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <22d658c6c5affed10c8907e67160cef0b6c92186
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <3e582749e742e662a8e9bb37cffac62dccaaa1e2
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <4e166a41180be2f1e66bbb6d46448e80a9a5ec05
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <515e7ba11ef043d6febe69389949c8ef5f25e9d0
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <64c4a37ac04eeb43c42d272f6e6c8c12bfcf4304
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <9901b07ba42b39266b34a888e48d7306fd707bee
- Affected versionversion=c69c1b6eaea1b3e1eecf7ad2fba0208ac4a11131 <eb5f51756944735ac70cd8bb38637cc202e29c91
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
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