CVE-2022-49636

Kernel memory exhaustion via VLAN allocation leak

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated May 23, 2026

Memory leak in the Linux kernel VLAN link handler allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through crafted egress QoS maps. The vlan_newlink error path leaves earlier vlan_dev_set_egress_priority allocations referenced when a later vlan_changelink allocation fails because no destructor runs after failed link creation. A local user must be able to create VLAN links and trigger the allocation-failure path; repeated attempts can deplete kernel memory and interrupt service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in the Linux kernel VLAN link handler allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through crafted egress QoS maps. The vlan_newlink error path leaves earlier vlan_dev_set_egress_priority allocations referenced when a later vlan_changelink allocation fails because no destructor runs after failed link creation. A local user must be able to create VLAN links and trigger the allocation-failure path; repeated attempts can deplete kernel memory and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49636
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
May 23, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 23, 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=37aa50c539bcbcc01767e515bd170787fcfc0f33 <4c43069bb1097dd6cc1cf0f7c43a36d1f7b3910b
  2. Affected versionversion=37aa50c539bcbcc01767e515bd170787fcfc0f33 <72a0b329114b1caa8e69dfa7cdad1dd3c69b8602
  3. Affected versionversion=5.10.235 <5.10.236
  4. Affected versionversion=5.15.142 <5.15.180
  5. Affected versionversion=5.17
  6. Affected versionversion=5.4.291 <5.4.292
  7. Affected versionversion=62d7ad2c191122119c66361ba6d9f04974b51afe <df27729a4fe0002dfd80c96fe1c142829c672728
  8. Affected versionversion=842801181864690fdcde73b017cce4c1353a7083 <f5dc10b910bdac523e5947336445a77066c51bf9
  9. Affected versionversion=b195d229de401377f70c04e0dff93b342464ec8e <549de58dba4bf1b2adc72e9948b9c76fa88be9d2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=37aa50c539bcbcc01767e515bd170787fcfc0f33 <4c43069bb1097dd6cc1cf0f7c43a36d1f7b3910b; version=37aa50c539bcbcc01767e515bd170787fcfc0f33 <72a0b329114b1caa8e69dfa7cdad1dd3c69b8602; version=5.10.235 <5.10.236; version=5.15.142 <5.15.180; version=5.17; version=5.4.291 <5.4.292; version=62d7ad2c191122119c66361ba6d9f04974b51afe <df27729a4fe0002dfd80c96fe1c142829c672728; version=842801181864690fdcde73b017cce4c1353a7083 <f5dc10b910bdac523e5947336445a77066c51bf9; version=b195d229de401377f70c04e0dff93b342464ec8e <549de58dba4bf1b2adc72e9948b9c76fa88be9d2

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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