Kernel memory corruption via late netdevice references
Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux kernel 5.17 through 5.17.2 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during netdevice dismantling. The ref_tracker subsystem failed to mark a ref_tracker_dir dead or reject later ref_tracker_alloc() and ref_tracker_free() calls, allowing delayed dev_hold() or dev_put() activity to touch a dismantled network device. Local low-privilege access is required, and the stale-reference access can compromise kernel confidentiality, integrity, or availability.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel 5.17 through 5.17.2 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during netdevice dismantling. The ref_tracker subsystem failed to mark a ref_tracker_dir dead or reject later ref_tracker_alloc() and ref_tracker_free() calls, allowing delayed dev_hold() or dev_put() activity to touch a dismantled network device. Local low-privilege access is required, and the stale-reference access can compromise kernel confidentiality, integrity, or availability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-49127
- Published
- Feb 26, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1068
- 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=4e66934eaadc83b27ada8d42b60894018f3bfabf <3743c9de303fa36c2e2ca2522ab280c52bcafbd2
- Affected versionversion=4e66934eaadc83b27ada8d42b60894018f3bfabf <e3ececfe668facd87d920b608349a32607060e66
- Affected versionversion=5.17
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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