CVE-2022-50279

Kernel memory disclosure or crash via reversed comparison

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025

Out-of-bounds read in the Linux rtlwifi driver allows local users to disclose kernel memory or crash the system during Wi-Fi initialization. During _rtl8812ae_phy_set_txpower_limit(), _rtl8812ae_eq_n_byte() compares prate_section strings from tail to head in an order that lets the short value HT be read past its global bounds. Low-privileged local access and initialization of the affected rtl8821ae Wi-Fi driver are required; no write or code-execution impact is reported.

CVSS severity7.1
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

Out-of-bounds read in the Linux rtlwifi driver allows local users to disclose kernel memory or crash the system during Wi-Fi initialization. During _rtl8812ae_phy_set_txpower_limit(), _rtl8812ae_eq_n_byte() compares prate_section strings from tail to head in an order that lets the short value HT be read past its global bounds. Low-privileged local access and initialization of the affected rtl8821ae Wi-Fi driver are required; no write or code-execution impact is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50279
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Sep 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, CAPEC-540
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=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <057b52461dc005ecd85a3e4998913b1492ec0f72
  2. Affected versionversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <0c962dcd6bf64b78eaffc09e497a2beb4e48bc32
  3. Affected versionversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <117dbeda22ec5ea0918254d03b540ef8b8a64d53
  4. Affected versionversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <1e950b9a841bc96e98ee25680d5c7aa305120be1
  5. Affected versionversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <28ea268d95e57cdf6394a058f0d854206d478772
  6. Affected versionversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <f1fe40120de6ad4ffa8299fde035a5feba10d4fb
  7. Affected versionversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <fc3442247716fc426bbcf62ed65e086e48a6d44f
  8. Affected versionversion=3.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <057b52461dc005ecd85a3e4998913b1492ec0f72; version=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <0c962dcd6bf64b78eaffc09e497a2beb4e48bc32; version=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <117dbeda22ec5ea0918254d03b540ef8b8a64d53; version=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <1e950b9a841bc96e98ee25680d5c7aa305120be1; version=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <28ea268d95e57cdf6394a058f0d854206d478772; version=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <f1fe40120de6ad4ffa8299fde035a5feba10d4fb; version=21e4b0726dc671c423e2dc9a85364716219c4502 <fc3442247716fc426bbcf62ed65e086e48a6d44f; version=3.18

Published CVSS scores

7.0SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.1UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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-125Out-of-bounds Read
CAPEC-540Overread Buffers

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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