CVE-2022-50432Public exploit

Kernel memory corruption via concurrent kernfs removal

Published Oct 1, 2025 · Updated Oct 1, 2025

Use-after-free in Linux kernfs allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent removal of the same node. Concurrent kernfs_remove_by_name_ns() calls can enter kernfs_drain(), where the root node is freed without an extra retained reference before __kernfs_remove() continues to read it. The published 9p reproducer requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN and slab_nomerge, while delegated cgroup2 or user-namespace teardown exposes other low-privilege paths; exploitation can disclose or modify kernel memory or crash the host.

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

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux kernfs allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent removal of the same node. Concurrent kernfs_remove_by_name_ns() calls can enter kernfs_drain(), where the root node is freed without an extra retained reference before __kernfs_remove() continues to read it. The published 9p reproducer requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN and slab_nomerge, while delegated cgroup2 or user-namespace teardown exposes other low-privilege paths; exploitation can disclose or modify kernel memory or crash the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50432
Published
Oct 1, 2025
Updated
Oct 1, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 1, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <028cf780743eea79abffa7206b9dcfc080ad3546
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <02eb35131050735332658029082f61515b7dfe38
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4abc99652812a2ddf932f137515d5c5a04723538
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4dfd6a477a1525773469feaf3c514b2c0fef76b5
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6f72a3977ba9d0e5491a5c01315204272e7f9c44
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <94d2643df1e70a4c310ebb5e2c493eec33df1a06
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <af1b57cc39beca203559576b3046094fc9e5eb32
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c78b0dc6fb7fb389d674e491fd376388cdfb1d53

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <028cf780743eea79abffa7206b9dcfc080ad3546; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <02eb35131050735332658029082f61515b7dfe38; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4abc99652812a2ddf932f137515d5c5a04723538; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4dfd6a477a1525773469feaf3c514b2c0fef76b5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6f72a3977ba9d0e5491a5c01315204272e7f9c44; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <94d2643df1e70a4c310ebb5e2c493eec33df1a06; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <af1b57cc39beca203559576b3046094fc9e5eb32; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c78b0dc6fb7fb389d674e491fd376388cdfb1d53

Published CVSS scores

7.8Canonical Ubuntu SecurityCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo