CVE-2022-49873

Kernel-pointer exposure via released-resource type confusion

Published May 1, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Incorrect type conversion in the Linux eBPF verifier allows local users to expose a kernel pointer through an eBPF map. release_references() applies __mark_reg_unknown() to registers associated with a released resource, incorrectly retyping a runtime pointer as SCALAR_VALUE instead of making it uninitialized. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an eBPF-loading path; published material establishes kernel-address exposure but no broader data read, write, or code execution.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect type conversion in the Linux eBPF verifier allows local users to expose a kernel pointer through an eBPF map. release_references() applies __mark_reg_unknown() to registers associated with a released resource, incorrectly retyping a runtime pointer as SCALAR_VALUE instead of making it uninitialized. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an eBPF-loading path; published material establishes kernel-address exposure but no broader data read, write, or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49873
Published
May 1, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-704
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.20
  2. Affected versionversion=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <466ce46f251dfb259a8cbaa895ab9edd6fb56240
  3. Affected versionversion=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <ae5ccad6c711db0f2ca1231be051935dd128b8f5
  4. Affected versionversion=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <cedd4f01f67be94735f15123158f485028571037
  5. Affected versionversion=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <f1db20814af532f85e091231223e5e4818e8464b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.20; version=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <466ce46f251dfb259a8cbaa895ab9edd6fb56240; version=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <ae5ccad6c711db0f2ca1231be051935dd128b8f5; version=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <cedd4f01f67be94735f15123158f485028571037; version=fd978bf7fd312581a7ca454a991f0ffb34c4204b <f1db20814af532f85e091231223e5e4818e8464b

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-704Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast

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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