CVE-2022-50220

Freed network-device access via deferred linkwatch work

Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux usbnet allows local users to access freed kernel memory by disconnecting an affected USB Ethernet adapter. usbnet_deferred_kevent waits only after unregister_netdev, allowing linkwatch_event to run after free_netdev releases the network device. Triggering requires a listed driver to receive a link-change interrupt immediately before disconnect; the documented consequence is access to freed network-device memory.

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 Linux usbnet allows local users to access freed kernel memory by disconnecting an affected USB Ethernet adapter. usbnet_deferred_kevent waits only after unregister_netdev, allowing linkwatch_event to run after free_netdev releases the network device. Triggering requires a listed driver to receive a link-change interrupt immediately before disconnect; the documented consequence is access to freed network-device memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50220
Published
Jun 18, 2025
Updated
May 11, 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. 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=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <135199a2edd459d2b123144efcd7f9bcd95128e4
  2. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <635fd8953e4309b54ca6a81bed1d4a87668694f4
  3. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <7f77dcbc030c2faa6d8e8a594985eeb34018409e
  4. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <8b4588b8b00b299be16a35be67b331d8fdba03f3
  5. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <a69e617e533edddf3fa3123149900f36e0a6dc74
  6. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <d2d6b530d89b0a912148018027386aa049f0a309
  7. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <d49bb8cf9bfaa06aa527eb30f1a52a071da2e32f
  8. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <db3b738ae5f726204876f4303c49cfdf4311403f
  9. Affected versionversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <e2a521a7dcc463c5017b4426ca0804e151faeff7
  10. Affected versionversion=2.6.38

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <135199a2edd459d2b123144efcd7f9bcd95128e4; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <635fd8953e4309b54ca6a81bed1d4a87668694f4; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <7f77dcbc030c2faa6d8e8a594985eeb34018409e; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <8b4588b8b00b299be16a35be67b331d8fdba03f3; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <a69e617e533edddf3fa3123149900f36e0a6dc74; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <d2d6b530d89b0a912148018027386aa049f0a309; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <d49bb8cf9bfaa06aa527eb30f1a52a071da2e32f; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <db3b738ae5f726204876f4303c49cfdf4311403f; version=23f333a2bfafba80339315b724808982a9de57d9 <e2a521a7dcc463c5017b4426ca0804e151faeff7; version=2.6.38

Published CVSS scores

7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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

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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