CVE-2022-48854·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: arc_emac: Fix use after free in arc_mdio_probe() If bus->state is equal to MDIOBUS_ALLOCATED, mdiobus_free(bus) will free the "bus". But bus->name is still used in the next line, which will lead to a use after free. We can fix it by putting the name in a local variable and make the bus->name point to the rodata section "name",then use the name in the error message without referring to bus to avoid the uaf.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.16.15
- Published
- 2024-07-16
Affected versions
From: 5.16
Until: 5.16.15
Fixed in: 5.16.15
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.16.15 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the arc_emac network driver's MDIO probe function. Systems running kernel versions 5.16 through 5.16.14 should prioritize this patch to prevent potential memory corruption during network interface initialization. Apply the update through your distribution's package manager and reboot to activate the patched kernel.
sudo dnf update kernel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your current kernel version with 'uname -r' and compare against the affected range (5.16.0 to 5.16.14)
- Step 2: Verify if arc_emac driver is loaded by running 'lsmod | grep arc_emac' or 'ethtool -i <interface>' to identify the driver
- Step 3: Search system logs for arc_emac-related errors using 'dmesg | grep -i arc_emac' or 'journalctl -u kernel | grep arc_emac'
- Step 4: After kernel update, confirm the fix by running 'uname -r' to verify version 5.16.15 or later is running
FAQ
What is CVE-2022-48854?
CVE-2022-48854 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's arc_emac network driver that occurs during the MDIO bus initialization when memory is incorrectly freed but subsequently accessed, potentially causing kernel memory corruption.
Is CVE-2022-48854 being actively exploited?
No, according to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, CVE-2022-48854 is not actively exploited in the wild and no public exploits are currently available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2022-48854?
Linux kernel versions 5.16 through 5.16.14 are affected. Version 5.16.15 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2022-48854?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version; if it shows 5.16.0 through 5.16.14, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, verify if the arc_emac driver is in use with 'lsmod | grep arc_emac'.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2022-48854?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel package is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2022-48854 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
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