CVE-2022-49105

Kernel memory leak via incomplete wfx cleanup

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Memory leak in the Linux kernel wfx driver 5.5 through 5.17.2 allows local users to leak kernel memory during failed initialization. The wfx_init_common() error path returns without calling ieee80211_free_hw(hw), leaving the allocated wireless hardware structure unreleased. Local low-privileged access is required, and exposure depends on reaching the staging wfx driver's initialization error path; no crash is documented.

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

Memory leak in the Linux kernel wfx driver 5.5 through 5.17.2 allows local users to leak kernel memory during failed initialization. The wfx_init_common() error path returns without calling ieee80211_free_hw(hw), leaving the allocated wireless hardware structure unreleased. Local low-privileged access is required, and exposure depends on reaching the staging wfx driver's initialization error path; no crash is documented.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49105
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Aug 12, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 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=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <60f1d3c92dc1ef1026e5b917a329a7fa947da036
  2. Affected versionversion=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <86efcb524ae1889ae73f2a2f0bb7fff2ec757ab0
  3. Affected versionversion=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <93498c6e775ae91732a8109dba1bdcd324908f84
  4. Affected versionversion=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <9727912e906762a63c1a667c84731d3427653f88
  5. Affected versionversion=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <ab0fed1fa744173433cfd1dbaf9239f200ded650
  6. Affected versionversion=5.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <60f1d3c92dc1ef1026e5b917a329a7fa947da036; version=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <86efcb524ae1889ae73f2a2f0bb7fff2ec757ab0; version=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <93498c6e775ae91732a8109dba1bdcd324908f84; version=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <9727912e906762a63c1a667c84731d3427653f88; version=354d6ca9d99790e037bf06f093634e851d1253ee <ab0fed1fa744173433cfd1dbaf9239f200ded650; version=5.9

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS: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-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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