CVE-2022-49257

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: watch_queue: Fix NULL dereference in error cleanup In watch_queue_set_size(), the error cleanup code doesn't take account of the fact that __free_page() can't handle a NULL pointer when trying to free up buffer pages that did get allocated. Fix this by only calling __free_page() on the pages actually allocated. Without the fix, this can lead to something like the following: BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in __free_pages+0x1f/0x1b0 mm/page_alloc.c:5473 Read of size 4 at addr 0000000000000034 by task syz-executor168/3599 ... Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:88 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0xcd/0x134 lib/dump_stack.c:106 __kasan_report mm/kasan/report.c:446 [inline] kasan_report.cold+0x66/0xdf mm/kasan/report.c:459 check_region_inline mm/kasan/generic.c:183 [inline] kasan_check_range+0x13d/0x180 mm/kasan/generic.c:189 instrument_atomic_read include/linux/instrumented.h:71 [inline] atomic_read include/linux/atomic/atomic-instrumented.h:27 [inline] page_ref_count include/linux/page_ref.h:67 [inline] put_page_testzero include/linux/mm.h:717 [inline] __free_pages+0x1f/0x1b0 mm/page_alloc.c:5473 watch_queue_set_size+0x499/0x630 kernel/watch_queue.c:275 pipe_ioctl+0xac/0x2b0 fs/pipe.c:632 vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline] __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:874 [inline] __se_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:860 [inline] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x193/0x200 fs/ioctl.c:860 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x35/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xae

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-02-26
Last modified 2025-09-22
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2022-49257 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.8 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.110, 5.15.33, 5.16.19, 5.17.2, 5.18 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.8
Fixed in
✓ 5.10.110 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.33 5.15.x ✓ 5.16.19 5.16.x ✓ 5.17.2 5.17.x ✓ 5.18

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2022-49257 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2022-49257?

    CVE-2022-49257 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.8 onward and has been patched in 5.10.110, 5.15.33, 5.16.19 and others. CVE-2022-49257 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2022-49257?

    CVE-2022-49257 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2022-49257?

    Yes — CVE-2022-49257 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.110, 5.15.33, 5.16.19 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.8 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2022-49257 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2022-49257 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

    The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →