Kernel memory leak via unfreed NCI buffers
Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025
A memory leak in the Linux kernel virtual NCI device allows local users to consume kernel memory through repeated device-up requests. In drivers/nfc/virtual_ncidev.c, virtual_nci_send() copies an incoming socket buffer but neither consumes it after a successful send nor frees it on two early-return paths. Reachability requires local access to the virtual NCI interface; repeated requests retain kernel allocations, and published evidence reports memory loss rather than a crash.
Summary
What happened
A memory leak in the Linux kernel virtual NCI device allows local users to consume kernel memory through repeated device-up requests. In drivers/nfc/virtual_ncidev.c, virtual_nci_send() copies an incoming socket buffer but neither consumes it after a successful send nor frees it on two early-return paths. Reachability requires local access to the virtual NCI interface; repeated requests retain kernel allocations, and published evidence reports memory loss rather than a crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-50854
- Published
- Dec 30, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 30, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 30, 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.12
- Affected versionversion=e624e6c3e777fb3dfed036b9da4d433aee3608a5 <2c46a9a5f0b1c7341aa67667801079f3ff571678
- Affected versionversion=e624e6c3e777fb3dfed036b9da4d433aee3608a5 <88e879c9f59511174ef0ab1a3c9c83e2dbf8a213
- Affected versionversion=e624e6c3e777fb3dfed036b9da4d433aee3608a5 <e840d8f4a1b323973052a1af5ad4edafcde8ae3d
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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