CVE-2022-49956

Kernel memory corruption via freed command pointer return

Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel rtl8712 driver allows local users to cause an unspecified impact via MAC register commands. The read_macreg_hdl() and write_macreg_hdl() handlers free the pcmd command object, while cmd_hdl_filter() then returns that same freed pointer for later use. Ubuntu reports that no driver code path creates or enqueues either command, so the vulnerable path is unreachable and no consequence is reliably triggerable.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel rtl8712 driver allows local users to cause an unspecified impact via MAC register commands. The read_macreg_hdl() and write_macreg_hdl() handlers free the pcmd command object, while cmd_hdl_filter() then returns that same freed pointer for later use. Ubuntu reports that no driver code path creates or enqueues either command, so the vulnerable path is unreachable and no consequence is reliably triggerable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49956
Published
Jun 18, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 18, 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=2.6.37
  2. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <19e3f69d19801940abc2ac37c169882769ed9770
  3. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <376e15487fec837301d888068a3fcc82efb6171a
  4. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <7dce6b0ee7d78667d6c831ced957a08769973063
  5. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <9fd6170c5e2d0ccd027abe26f6f5ffc528e1bb27
  6. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <b1727def850904e4b8ba384043775672841663a1
  7. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <d0aac7146e96bf39e79c65087d21dfa02ef8db38
  8. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <dc02aaf950015850e7589696521c7fca767cea77
  9. Affected versionversion=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <e230a4455ac3e9b112f0367d1b8e255e141afae0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.37; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <19e3f69d19801940abc2ac37c169882769ed9770; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <376e15487fec837301d888068a3fcc82efb6171a; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <7dce6b0ee7d78667d6c831ced957a08769973063; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <9fd6170c5e2d0ccd027abe26f6f5ffc528e1bb27; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <b1727def850904e4b8ba384043775672841663a1; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <d0aac7146e96bf39e79c65087d21dfa02ef8db38; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <dc02aaf950015850e7589696521c7fca767cea77; version=2865d42c78a9121caad52cb02d1fbb7f5cdbc4ef <e230a4455ac3e9b112f0367d1b8e255e141afae0

Published CVSS scores

7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CanonicalCVSS: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

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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

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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