CVE-2022-49058·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cifs: potential buffer overflow in handling symlinks Smatch printed a warning: arch/x86/crypto/poly1305_glue.c:198 poly1305_update_arch() error: __memcpy() 'dctx->buf' too small (16 vs u32max) It's caused because Smatch marks 'link_len' as untrusted since it comes from sscanf(). Add a check to ensure that 'link_len' is not larger than the size of the 'link_str' buffer.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.17.4
- Published
- 2025-02-26
Affected versions
From: 5.16
Until: 5.17.4
Fixed in: 5.17.4
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.17.4 or later to patch a buffer overflow vulnerability in CIFS symlink handling that could allow local privilege escalation. Systems running kernel versions 5.16 through 5.17.3 should prioritize this update, as the flaw permits authenticated local users to overflow a fixed-size buffer during symlink processing. Apply the patch promptly through your distribution's package manager and reboot to activate the fix.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to verify your current kernel version; affected versions are 5.16.x through 5.17.3
- Check CIFS mount status with 'mount | grep cifs' to confirm if CIFS file systems are active on the system
- Search kernel logs for symlink-related errors: 'dmesg | grep -i symlink' or 'journalctl -b | grep -i cifs'
- Confirm patch application by verifying the kernel version is 5.17.4 or newer with 'uname -r' after reboot
FAQ
What is CVE-2022-49058?
CVE-2022-49058 is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's CIFS (Common Internet File System) implementation that occurs when processing symlink data with insufficiently validated length values, potentially enabling local privilege escalation.
Is CVE-2022-49058 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2022-49058 is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has no publicly available exploit code, though the local nature of the vulnerability means proof-of-concept development is straightforward.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2022-49058?
Linux kernel versions 5.16.0 through 5.17.3 are vulnerable; version 5.17.4 and later contain the remediation.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2022-49058?
Run 'uname -r' and compare the output to the affected range (5.16.x through 5.17.3); if your version falls within this range and CIFS is in use, your system requires the patch.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2022-49058?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2022-49058 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1316c28569a80ab3596eeab05bf5e01991e7e739
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22d658c6c5affed10c8907e67160cef0b6c92186
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3e582749e742e662a8e9bb37cffac62dccaaa1e2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4e166a41180be2f1e66bbb6d46448e80a9a5ec05
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/515e7ba11ef043d6febe69389949c8ef5f25e9d0
Track CVEs across your fleet automatically
Defensia scans your Linux servers and tells you exactly which ones are running vulnerable versions — including CVE-2022-49058. Free for 1 server.
Get started free