CVE-2022-49803

Kernel memory exhaustion via unfreed netdevsim cookie

Published May 1, 2025 · Updated Jul 4, 2026

Memory leak in the netdevsim driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to consume kernel memory during device removal. The nsim_dev_trap_fa_cookie_write() path allocates and stores fa_cookie, but nsim_drv_remove() tears down the device without freeing that allocation. Reaching the flaw requires local access and the ability to exercise netdevsim debugfs controls; repetition exhausts memory and interrupts service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
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 netdevsim driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to consume kernel memory during device removal. The nsim_dev_trap_fa_cookie_write() path allocates and stores fa_cookie, but nsim_drv_remove() tears down the device without freeing that allocation. Reaching the flaw requires local access and the ability to exercise netdevsim debugfs controls; repetition exhausts memory and interrupts service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49803
Published
May 1, 2025
Updated
Jul 4, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 4, 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=5.7
  2. Affected versionversion=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <064bc7312bd09a48798418663090be0c776183db
  3. Affected versionversion=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <207edad5717e0a5709ce8467f0eff41c607835c9
  4. Affected versionversion=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <6d463ddd0107d4188229d996dcdd45c99bad8af7
  5. Affected versionversion=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <7d79725a7073d86b9185f87718e22f3d65115801

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.7; version=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <064bc7312bd09a48798418663090be0c776183db; version=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <207edad5717e0a5709ce8467f0eff41c607835c9; version=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <6d463ddd0107d4188229d996dcdd45c99bad8af7; version=d3cbb907ae57fe5da314b51d949b617b538bdeae <7d79725a7073d86b9185f87718e22f3d65115801

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS: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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
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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