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Linux KernelOperating system · Linux

CVE-2022-50168

HIGH · 7.8 CVSS v3.1 Published 2025-06-18
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to 5.18.18 / 5.19.2 or later.
See remediation →
80/100
Remediation priority · High
Zero-click Patch available

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, x86: fix freeing of not-finalized bpf_prog_pack syzbot reported a few issues with bpf_prog_pack [1], [2]. This only happens with multiple subprogs. In jit_subprogs(), we first call bpf_int_jit_compile() on each sub program. And then, we call it on each sub program again. jit_data is not freed in the first call of bpf_int_jit_compile(). Similarly we don't call bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() in the first call of bpf_int_jit_compile(). If bpf_int_jit_compile() failed for one sub program, we will call bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() for this sub program. However, we don't have a chance to call it for other sub programs. Then we will hit "goto out_free" in jit_subprogs(), and call bpf_jit_free on some subprograms that haven't got bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() yet. At this point, bpf_jit_binary_pack_free() is called and the whole 2MB page is freed erroneously. Fix this with a custom bpf_jit_free() for x86_64, which calls bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() if necessary. Also, with custom bpf_jit_free(), bpf_prog_aux->use_bpf_prog_pack is not needed any more, remove it. [1] https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=2f649ec6d2eea1495a8f [2] https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=87f65c75f4a72db05445

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis

A detailed technical summary for this CVE is being prepared.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Linux KernelOperating system
Affected:>= 5.18, < 5.18.18>= 5.19, < 5.19.2

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Upgrade available Upgrade to 5.18.18 / 5.19.2 or later
Fixed in 5.18.185.19.2
Vendor patch git.kernel.org →
Recommended fix High confidence

Linux Kernel 5.18.18 or 5.19.2 (whichever branch matches your deployment)

  1. Identify the currently running kernel version using `uname -r`
  2. If running kernel >= 5.18 and < 5.18.18, or >= 5.19 and < 5.19.2, the system is vulnerable
  3. Schedule a maintenance window for kernel upgrade
  4. Backup critical data and verify system backups are functional
  5. Upgrade the Linux kernel to version 5.18.18 or higher, or 5.19.2 or higher
  6. Reboot the system to load the new kernel
  7. Verify the new kernel version is running with `uname -r` and confirm it shows 5.18.18+ or 5.19.2+
Caveat Kernel upgrades may require recompilation of out-of-tree modules; ensure vendor or third-party kernel modules are compatible with the target version before upgrading

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

We can perform the upgrade in your staging environment and verify nothing breaks — typical engagement from $1,950. Get the upgrade done

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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2022-50168 in production — separate from our analysis above.

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