Service interruption via leaked Wi-Fi buffers
Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025
A memory leak in the Linux kernel rtw89 Wi-Fi driver allows local users to exhaust kernel memory during power-saving transitions. The rtw89_h2c_tx function returns when firmware power is off without freeing the unused socket buffer passed for transmission. Reachability requires an affected Realtek driver operating in power-saving mode; repeated execution can deplete memory and interrupt service.
Summary
What happened
A memory leak in the Linux kernel rtw89 Wi-Fi driver allows local users to exhaust kernel memory during power-saving transitions. The rtw89_h2c_tx function returns when firmware power is off without freeing the unused socket buffer passed for transmission. Reachability requires an affected Realtek driver operating in power-saving mode; repeated execution can deplete memory and interrupt service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-50863
- Published
- Dec 30, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 30, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
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?
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <216c59b66f2d0c428a4fdaa24dc28cd6be4a2bf6
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d4b4f6ff8ff1b87d25977423cf38fb61744d0023
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <eae672f386049146058b9e5d3d33e9e4af9dca1d
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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