CVE-2022-49390

Local privilege escalation via unreferenced backing device

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A use-after-free in the Linux kernel MACsec driver allows local users to escalate privileges by tearing down crafted network devices. macsec_dev_init stores real_dev without acquiring a reference, so deleting the lower veth can free it before macsec_get_iflink dereferences it during linkwatch processing. A user with access to user and network namespaces can reach the flaw through local rtnetlink operations, leading to kernel memory disclosure, arbitrary writes, control-flow hijacking, or a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A use-after-free in the Linux kernel MACsec driver allows local users to escalate privileges by tearing down crafted network devices. macsec_dev_init stores real_dev without acquiring a reference, so deleting the lower veth can free it before macsec_get_iflink dereferences it during linkwatch processing. A user with access to user and network namespaces can reach the flaw through local rtnetlink operations, leading to kernel memory disclosure, arbitrary writes, control-flow hijacking, or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49390
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

  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=1861904a6092ed411203c6a02c75bfc45b27cc3c
  2. Affected versionversion=2bce1ebed17da54c65042ec2b962e3234bad5b47 <196a888ca6571deb344468e1d7138e3273206335
  3. Affected versionversion=2bce1ebed17da54c65042ec2b962e3234bad5b47 <78933cbc143b82d02330e00900d2fd08f2682f4e
  4. Affected versionversion=2bce1ebed17da54c65042ec2b962e3234bad5b47 <d130282179aa6051449ac8f8df1115769998a665
  5. Affected versionversion=3a2675a2d97a68332fa5c33043038bfeb31455a8
  6. Affected versionversion=4.14.154 <4.15
  7. Affected versionversion=4.19.84 <4.20
  8. Affected versionversion=5.3.11 <5.4
  9. Affected versionversion=5.4
  10. Affected versionversion=b0add6db3d5ec4561cab257358871a9d3df7f0a3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1861904a6092ed411203c6a02c75bfc45b27cc3c; version=2bce1ebed17da54c65042ec2b962e3234bad5b47 <196a888ca6571deb344468e1d7138e3273206335; version=2bce1ebed17da54c65042ec2b962e3234bad5b47 <78933cbc143b82d02330e00900d2fd08f2682f4e; version=2bce1ebed17da54c65042ec2b962e3234bad5b47 <d130282179aa6051449ac8f8df1115769998a665; version=3a2675a2d97a68332fa5c33043038bfeb31455a8; version=4.14.154 <4.15; version=4.19.84 <4.20; version=5.3.11 <5.4; version=5.4; version=b0add6db3d5ec4561cab257358871a9d3df7f0a3

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8LinuxCVSS: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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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