CVE-2022-50552

Kernel panic via blk-mq elevator-switch race

Published Oct 7, 2025 · Updated Oct 7, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel blk-mq subsystem allows local users with CAP_SYS_ADMIN to trigger a kernel panic during queue reinitialization. blk_mq_realloc_hw_ctxs freezes the queue without quiescing hctx run_work, so worker code can dereference an elevator pointer while the elevator is being torn down. Reaching the race requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN in the initial user namespace or equivalent root-only sysfs access, and the bounded consequence is a host crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
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 blk-mq subsystem allows local users with CAP_SYS_ADMIN to trigger a kernel panic during queue reinitialization. blk_mq_realloc_hw_ctxs freezes the queue without quiescing hctx run_work, so worker code can dereference an elevator pointer while the elevator is being torn down. Reaching the race requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN in the initial user namespace or equivalent root-only sysfs access, and the bounded consequence is a host crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50552
Published
Oct 7, 2025
Updated
Oct 7, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 7, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 7, 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 <63a681bcc32a43528ce0f690569f7f48e59c3963
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8237c01f1696bc53c470493bf1fe092a107648a6
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c478b3b2900f1834cf9eda5bfef0d5696099505d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <63a681bcc32a43528ce0f690569f7f48e59c3963; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8237c01f1696bc53c470493bf1fe092a107648a6; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c478b3b2900f1834cf9eda5bfef0d5696099505d

Published CVSS scores

7.8DebianCVSS: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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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