CVE-2022-50661

Kernel memory exhaustion via seccomp refcount leak

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Memory leak in the Linux kernel allows local users to consume kernel memory through a race involving seccomp and clone calls. copy_process() calls copy_seccomp() before checking fatal_signal_pending(), then aborts an embryonic task without reaching release_task() to decrement the shared filter reference. A local low-privileged account that can install a seccomp filter and control the signal timing can repeat the leak, degrading availability through kernel-memory exhaustion.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in the Linux kernel allows local users to consume kernel memory through a race involving seccomp and clone calls. copy_process() calls copy_seccomp() before checking fatal_signal_pending(), then aborts an embryonic task without reaching release_task() to decrement the shared filter reference. A local low-privileged account that can install a seccomp filter and control the signal timing can repeat the leak, degrading availability through kernel-memory exhaustion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50661
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499.004
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=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <29a69fa075d0577eff1137426669de21187ec182
  2. Affected versionversion=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <5b81f0c6c60e35bf8153230ddfb03ebb14e17986
  3. Affected versionversion=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <a1140cb215fa13dcec06d12ba0c3ee105633b7c4
  4. Affected versionversion=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <a31a647a3d1073a642c5bbe3457731fb353cb980
  5. Affected versionversion=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <d4a895e924b486f2a38463114509e1088ef4d7f5
  6. Affected versionversion=5.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <29a69fa075d0577eff1137426669de21187ec182; version=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <5b81f0c6c60e35bf8153230ddfb03ebb14e17986; version=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <a1140cb215fa13dcec06d12ba0c3ee105633b7c4; version=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <a31a647a3d1073a642c5bbe3457731fb353cb980; version=3a15fb6ed92cb32b0a83f406aa4a96f28c9adbc3 <d4a895e924b486f2a38463114509e1088ef4d7f5; version=5.9

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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