Kernel compromise via GPU-reset stream double free
Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Double free in the AMD display driver in Linux 5.17 through 5.17.1 allows local users to compromise the kernel via GPU reset. The reset flow preserves valid link-encoder assignments in a backed-up stream state after the current state clears them, so post-reset cleanup releases the same extra stream reference twice. Access to an AMD GPU device node and an active display path is required; exploitation can disclose or modify kernel memory, while a failed attempt can crash or hang the system.
Summary
What happened
Double free in the AMD display driver in Linux 5.17 through 5.17.1 allows local users to compromise the kernel via GPU reset. The reset flow preserves valid link-encoder assignments in a backed-up stream state after the current state clears them, so post-reset cleanup releases the same extra stream reference twice. Access to an AMD GPU device node and an active display path is required; exploitation can disclose or modify kernel memory, while a failed attempt can crash or hang the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-49203
- Published
- Feb 26, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-415, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=5.17
- Affected versionversion=6d63fcc2a334f7bd15e4e9b1db50a19335d2af4f <32685b32d825ca08c5dec826477332df886c4743
- Affected versionversion=6d63fcc2a334f7bd15e4e9b1db50a19335d2af4f <bbfcdd6289ba6f00f0cd7d496946dce9f6c600ac
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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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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