CVE-2022-50870

System hang via panic-time device-tree deadlock

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

A deadlock in the Linux kernel's PowerPC RTAS panic path allows local users to hang affected systems through a kernel panic. The rtas_os_term() function traverses the /rtas device-tree node while panic handling can already hold devtree_lock, causing a recursive lock wait. The flaw is limited to PowerPC systems using RTAS, and the hang occurs only when panic handling runs while devtree_lock is held.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A deadlock in the Linux kernel's PowerPC RTAS panic path allows local users to hang affected systems through a kernel panic. The rtas_os_term() function traverses the /rtas device-tree node while panic handling can already hold devtree_lock, causing a recursive lock wait. The flaw is limited to PowerPC systems using RTAS, and the hang occurs only when panic handling runs while devtree_lock is held.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50870
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

  1. Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <06a07fbb32b3a23eec20a42b1e64474da0a3b33e
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <464d10e8d797454e16a173ef1292a446b2adf21c
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <698e682c849e356fb47a8be47ca8baa817cf31e0
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c2fa91abf22a705cf02f886cd99cff41f4ceda60
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d8939315b7342860df143afe0adda6212cdd3193
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e23822c7381c59d9e42e65771b6e17c71ed30ea7
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ed2213bfb192ab51f09f12e9b49b5d482c6493f3
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f2167f10fcca68ab9ae3f8d94d2c704c5541ac69

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <06a07fbb32b3a23eec20a42b1e64474da0a3b33e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <464d10e8d797454e16a173ef1292a446b2adf21c; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <698e682c849e356fb47a8be47ca8baa817cf31e0; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c2fa91abf22a705cf02f886cd99cff41f4ceda60; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d8939315b7342860df143afe0adda6212cdd3193; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e23822c7381c59d9e42e65771b6e17c71ed30ea7; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ed2213bfb192ab51f09f12e9b49b5d482c6493f3; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f2167f10fcca68ab9ae3f8d94d2c704c5541ac69

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS: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.

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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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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