CVE-2022-49160

Kernel crash via freeing preallocated PUREX entry

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Invalid pointer release in the Linux kernel qla2xxx driver allows local users to crash the kernel during module removal. The qla24xx_free_purex_list function removes each PUREX list entry and passes the embedded preallocated default_item entry to kfree. Triggering the recorded failure requires qla2xxx PUREX activity followed by module removal; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel crash.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Invalid pointer release in the Linux kernel qla2xxx driver allows local users to crash the kernel during module removal. The qla24xx_free_purex_list function removes each PUREX list entry and passes the embedded preallocated default_item entry to kfree. Triggering the recorded failure requires qla2xxx PUREX activity followed by module removal; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49160
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-763, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 2025CVE 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=5.9
  2. Affected versionversion=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <0972252450f90db56dd5415a20e2aec21a08d036
  3. Affected versionversion=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <213e57b42537f1a2e5395caa9d7189854133ed12
  4. Affected versionversion=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <67f744f73eba870ab96411d0310e831a4adc3713
  5. Affected versionversion=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <9b7eb92dac240ab3bc83e188d83a3df834b41eb2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.9; version=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <0972252450f90db56dd5415a20e2aec21a08d036; version=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <213e57b42537f1a2e5395caa9d7189854133ed12; version=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <67f744f73eba870ab96411d0310e831a4adc3713; version=62e9dd177732843ae6c5b9d2ed61e7c9538fa276 <9b7eb92dac240ab3bc83e188d83a3df834b41eb2

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/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 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-763Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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