Kernel compromise via scan request use-after-free
Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux kernel mac80211 allows physically proximate attackers to disclose memory, corrupt state, or crash the kernel. During an active Wi-Fi scan, __ieee80211_scan_completed() frees scan_req through cfg80211_scan_done() while ieee80211_scan_rx() can still read scan_req->flags through an RCU-protected dangling pointer. Exploitation requires the same Wi-Fi radio segment and crafted Probe Response traffic timed against scan completion; the documented outcomes remain within the host kernel.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel mac80211 allows physically proximate attackers to disclose memory, corrupt state, or crash the kernel. During an active Wi-Fi scan, __ieee80211_scan_completed() frees scan_req through cfg80211_scan_done() while ieee80211_scan_rx() can still read scan_req->flags through an RCU-protected dangling pointer. Exploitation requires the same Wi-Fi radio segment and crafted Probe Response traffic timed against scan completion; the documented outcomes remain within the host kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-49934
- Published
- Jun 18, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=3.19
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <4abc8c07a065ecf771827bde3c63fbbe4aa0c08b
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <5d20c6f932f2758078d0454729129c894fe353e7
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <60deb9f10eec5c6a20252ed36238b55d8b614a2c
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <6eb181a64fdabf10be9e54de728876667da20255
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <78a07732fbb0934d14827d8f09b9aa6a49ee1aa9
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <9ad48cbf8b07f10c1e4a7a262b32a9179ae9dd2d
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <c0445feb80a4d0854898118fa01073701f8d356b
- Affected versionversion=6ea0a69ca21bbddab5b3979c2190013b0263e749 <e0ff39448cea654843744c72c6780293c5082cb1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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