Service interruption via DVB-USB initialization leak
Published Dec 8, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026
A memory leak in the Linux DVB-USB adapter initializer allows attackers to consume kernel memory through failed device initialization. The dvb_usb_adapter_init function exits through several error paths before incrementing num_adapters_initalized and leaves the current adapter private allocation unfreed. Reaching the leak requires a DVB-USB device and an initialization failure; repeated failures leave additional kernel memory unavailable.
Summary
What happened
A memory leak in the Linux DVB-USB adapter initializer allows attackers to consume kernel memory through failed device initialization. The dvb_usb_adapter_init function exits through several error paths before incrementing num_adapters_initalized and leaves the current adapter private allocation unfreed. Reaching the leak requires a DVB-USB device and an initialization failure; repeated failures leave additional kernel memory unavailable.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-50626
- Published
- Dec 8, 2025
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.19
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <17217737c174883dd975885ab4bee4b00f517239
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <21b6b0c9f3796e6917e90db403dae9e74025fc40
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <733bc9e226da2a7f43b10031b8ebfc26d89ec4bd
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <7d7ab25ead969594df05fb09ee46ca931d46c5c8
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <93bbf2ed428142aa9a9693721230b28571678bf8
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <94d90fb06b94a90c176270d38861bcba34ce377d
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <d0af6220bb1eed8225a5511de5a3bd386b94afa4
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <e5a49140035591d13ff57a7537c65217e5af0d15
- Affected versionversion=4d43e13f723e12734257277cc38497fab1efc605 <e5d01eb6dc2f699a395d3e731c58a9b3bb4e269f
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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