CVE-2022-49238

Kernel memory corruption via dangling ath11k peer

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ath11k driver in 5.17 through 5.17.1 allows attackers to corrupt kernel memory over Wi-Fi. On station disconnect, ath11k_mac_op_sta_state skips peer deletion for QCA6390 and WCN6855, leaves peer->sta pointing to freed station memory, and later dereferences it in ath11k_dp_rx_update_peer_stats. The device must be associated over Wi-Fi with affected hardware; deauthentication or disassociation traffic can cause kernel disclosure, corruption, or a crash without a host account.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ath11k driver in 5.17 through 5.17.1 allows attackers to corrupt kernel memory over Wi-Fi. On station disconnect, ath11k_mac_op_sta_state skips peer deletion for QCA6390 and WCN6855, leaves peer->sta pointing to freed station memory, and later dereferences it in ath11k_dp_rx_update_peer_stats. The device must be associated over Wi-Fi with affected hardware; deauthentication or disassociation traffic can cause kernel disclosure, corruption, or a crash without a host account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49238
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=5.17
  2. Affected versionversion=b4a0f54156ac7720de1750b6ea06657c91c52163 <212ad7cb7d7592669c067125949e0a8e31ce6a0b
  3. Affected versionversion=b4a0f54156ac7720de1750b6ea06657c91c52163 <400705c50bbf184794c885d1efad7fe9ccf1471a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.17; version=b4a0f54156ac7720de1750b6ea06657c91c52163 <212ad7cb7d7592669c067125949e0a8e31ce6a0b; version=b4a0f54156ac7720de1750b6ea06657c91c52163 <400705c50bbf184794c885d1efad7fe9ccf1471a

Published CVSS scores

8.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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