CVE-2022-50179

Kernel crash via stale ath9k_htc driver pointer

Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ath9k_htc USB driver from 2.6.35 allows local users to crash the system during failed device probe. ath9k_htc_probe_device assigns drv_priv before target initialization succeeds, then a failure frees its owner while ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb can still dereference it through RX_STAT_INC. Reachability requires compatible USB wireless hardware, a failed target initialization, and subsequent IRQ receive-callback activity; the resulting stale kernel-memory read can fault the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
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 ath9k_htc USB driver from 2.6.35 allows local users to crash the system during failed device probe. ath9k_htc_probe_device assigns drv_priv before target initialization succeeds, then a failure frees its owner while ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb can still dereference it through RX_STAT_INC. Reachability requires compatible USB wireless hardware, a failed target initialization, and subsequent IRQ receive-callback activity; the resulting stale kernel-memory read can fault the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50179
Published
Jun 18, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 18, 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

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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=2.6.35
  2. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <03ca957c5f7b55660957eda20b5db4110319ac7a
  3. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <0ac4827f78c7ffe8eef074bc010e7e34bc22f533
  4. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <62bc1ea5c7401d77eaf73d0c6a15f3d2e742856e
  5. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <6b14ab47937ba441e75e8dbb9fbfc9c55efa41c6
  6. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <ab7a0ddf5f1cdec63cb21840369873806fc36d80
  7. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <b66ebac40f64336ae2d053883bee85261060bd27
  8. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <e9e21206b8ea62220b486310c61277e7ebfe7cec
  9. Affected versionversion=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <eccd7c3e2596b574241a7670b5b53f5322f470e5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.35; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <03ca957c5f7b55660957eda20b5db4110319ac7a; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <0ac4827f78c7ffe8eef074bc010e7e34bc22f533; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <62bc1ea5c7401d77eaf73d0c6a15f3d2e742856e; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <6b14ab47937ba441e75e8dbb9fbfc9c55efa41c6; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <ab7a0ddf5f1cdec63cb21840369873806fc36d80; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <b66ebac40f64336ae2d053883bee85261060bd27; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <e9e21206b8ea62220b486310c61277e7ebfe7cec; version=fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 <eccd7c3e2596b574241a7670b5b53f5322f470e5

Published CVSS scores

7.8UbuntuCVSS: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

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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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