CVE-2022-50659

Local availability loss via PCI reference leak

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Resource leak in the Linux kernel Geode RNG driver before 6.2 allows local users to reduce availability through retained PCI references. The driver exits for_each_pci_dev() with a non-null device pointer but omits pci_dev_put(), leaving the selected PCI device reference elevated on normal and error paths. The affected driver must run with compatible AMD Geode hardware; published assessments limit impact to availability and do not document a reliable unprivileged trigger.

CVSS severity4.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource leak in the Linux kernel Geode RNG driver before 6.2 allows local users to reduce availability through retained PCI references. The driver exits for_each_pci_dev() with a non-null device pointer but omits pci_dev_put(), leaving the selected PCI device reference elevated on normal and error paths. The affected driver must run with compatible AMD Geode hardware; published assessments limit impact to availability and do not document a reliable unprivileged trigger.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50659
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 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=2.6.18
  2. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <19b7b85773b18457ff85a9ff4f5e2a2d4bf7ed0c
  3. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <5cc818ad53df650cac8fb41d9066665366af3f03
  4. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <6b9e43c4098f1310f5b4d52121d007a219fa5d43
  5. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <82bd423ed977847652b2048b0f8dcf049b1847a9
  6. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <874f798c2db5ad595e46982d7f727a679dacb048
  7. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <88f4ea623f59155280d99d1a59a968f838472c4a
  8. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <9f6ec8dc574efb7f4f3d7ee9cd59ae307e78f445
  9. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <aa96aff394a511cc7bb7df08d1b8504d4d97671e
  10. Affected versionversion=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <e2f44baf62567c5cfbc274974c7d96dddad53ccc

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.18; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <19b7b85773b18457ff85a9ff4f5e2a2d4bf7ed0c; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <5cc818ad53df650cac8fb41d9066665366af3f03; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <6b9e43c4098f1310f5b4d52121d007a219fa5d43; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <82bd423ed977847652b2048b0f8dcf049b1847a9; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <874f798c2db5ad595e46982d7f727a679dacb048; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <88f4ea623f59155280d99d1a59a968f838472c4a; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <9f6ec8dc574efb7f4f3d7ee9cd59ae307e78f445; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <aa96aff394a511cc7bb7df08d1b8504d4d97671e; version=ef5d862734b84239e0140319a95fb0bbff5ef394 <e2f44baf62567c5cfbc274974c7d96dddad53ccc

Published CVSS scores

4.8SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
3.3SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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