CVE-2022-50274

Local privilege escalation via dangling DVB device pointer

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel DVB core allows local users with DVB device access to execute kernel code or crash the host. dvb_unregister_device() frees a dvb_device while open file descriptors retain it in file->private_data, leaving later ioctl or release operations to dereference reclaimed memory. Access to a DVB character-device node and device teardown are required; successful exploitation can elevate privileges, while a failed attempt can cause a kernel oops.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
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 DVB core allows local users with DVB device access to execute kernel code or crash the host. dvb_unregister_device() frees a dvb_device while open file descriptors retain it in file->private_data, leaving later ioctl or release operations to dereference reclaimed memory. Access to a DVB character-device node and device teardown are required; successful exploitation can elevate privileges, while a failed attempt can cause a kernel oops.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50274
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Sep 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 15, 2025Record 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0fc044b2b5e2d05a1fa1fb0d7f270367a7855d79
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <219b44bf94203bd433aa91b7796475bf656348e5
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2abd73433872194bccdf1432a0980e4ec5273c2a
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6d18b44bb44e1f4d97dfe0efe92ac0f0984739c2
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <88a6f8a72d167294c0931c7874941bf37a41b6dd
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9945d05d6693710574f354c5dbddc47f5101eb77
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a2f0a08aa613176c9688c81d7b598a7779974991
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ac521bbe3d00fa574e66a9361763f2b37725bc97

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0fc044b2b5e2d05a1fa1fb0d7f270367a7855d79; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <219b44bf94203bd433aa91b7796475bf656348e5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2abd73433872194bccdf1432a0980e4ec5273c2a; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6d18b44bb44e1f4d97dfe0efe92ac0f0984739c2; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <88a6f8a72d167294c0931c7874941bf37a41b6dd; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9945d05d6693710574f354c5dbddc47f5101eb77; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a2f0a08aa613176c9688c81d7b598a7779974991; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ac521bbe3d00fa574e66a9361763f2b37725bc97

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel security teamCVSS: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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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