CVE-2022-50624

Kernel object leaks via incomplete netsec cleanup

Published Dec 8, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Resource leaks in the netsec Ethernet driver in Linux allow attackers to retain kernel objects when PHY or MDIO device setup fails. netsec_register_mdio omits phy_device_free after phy_device_register failure and omits mdiobus_unregister after get_phy_device failure. The paths require a driver-registration failure; published sources identify neither a user-controllable trigger nor a resulting service interruption.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
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

Resource leaks in the netsec Ethernet driver in Linux allow attackers to retain kernel objects when PHY or MDIO device setup fails. netsec_register_mdio omits phy_device_free after phy_device_register failure and omits mdiobus_unregister after get_phy_device failure. The paths require a driver-registration failure; published sources identify neither a user-controllable trigger nor a resulting service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50624
Published
Dec 8, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record 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=4.16
  2. Affected versionversion=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <1e0bee973ef6fc3c1e3acb014515eaea37c8fa17
  3. Affected versionversion=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <62f0a08e82a6312efd7df7f595c0b11d4ffde610
  4. Affected versionversion=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <728884b22d83148a330b23f9472f1e118b589211
  5. Affected versionversion=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <846e677daf51220d7975c61a20e440a88473951e
  6. Affected versionversion=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <94423589689124e8cd145b38a1034be7f25835b2
  7. Affected versionversion=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <fda2d07234a21be4d71ebfe97a45f499726902d6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.16; version=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <1e0bee973ef6fc3c1e3acb014515eaea37c8fa17; version=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <62f0a08e82a6312efd7df7f595c0b11d4ffde610; version=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <728884b22d83148a330b23f9472f1e118b589211; version=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <846e677daf51220d7975c61a20e440a88473951e; version=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <94423589689124e8cd145b38a1034be7f25835b2; version=533dd11a12f698c571a12271b20f235792d3e148 <fda2d07234a21be4d71ebfe97a45f499726902d6

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)
VectorUnavailable
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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