CVE-2022-50578

Kernel memory leak via incomplete class cleanup

Published Oct 22, 2025 · Updated Oct 22, 2025

Memory leakage in the device-class core in the Linux kernel allows attackers to consume kernel memory through failed class registration. When class_add_groups() fails, __class_register() neither removes cp->subsys nor frees the class-private object and its retained name. The published reproduction uses fault injection during modprobe, and public sources establish no attacker-controlled input or effect beyond unreclaimed kernel memory.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leakage in the device-class core in the Linux kernel allows attackers to consume kernel memory through failed class registration. When class_add_groups() fails, __class_register() neither removes cp->subsys nor frees the class-private object and its retained name. The published reproduction uses fault injection during modprobe, and public sources establish no attacker-controlled input or effect beyond unreclaimed kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50578
Published
Oct 22, 2025
Updated
Oct 22, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 22, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 22, 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=4.10
  2. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <18a7200646958cf8e1b8a933de08122fc50676cd
  3. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <3bb9c92c27624ad076419a70f2b1a30cd1f8bbbd
  4. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <3e0efc3f3f5e5c73996782f8db69963e501bb878
  5. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <417ef049e3fd3b0d2593c1d5ffa3d0d5d0a018a7
  6. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <4efa5443817c1b6de22d401aeca5b2481e835f8c
  7. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <8c3e8a6bdb5253b97ad532570f8b5db5f7a06407
  8. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <abaedb68a769e6bf36836b55a2f49b531c5f3f7b
  9. Affected versionversion=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <e764ad5918a099ebeb909ccff83893a714e497e1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.10; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <18a7200646958cf8e1b8a933de08122fc50676cd; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <3bb9c92c27624ad076419a70f2b1a30cd1f8bbbd; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <3e0efc3f3f5e5c73996782f8db69963e501bb878; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <417ef049e3fd3b0d2593c1d5ffa3d0d5d0a018a7; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <4efa5443817c1b6de22d401aeca5b2481e835f8c; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <8c3e8a6bdb5253b97ad532570f8b5db5f7a06407; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <abaedb68a769e6bf36836b55a2f49b531c5f3f7b; version=ced6473e7486702f530a49f886b73195e4977734 <e764ad5918a099ebeb909ccff83893a714e497e1

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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