CVE-2022-50259

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, sockmap: fix race in sock_map_free() sock_map_free() calls release_sock(sk) without owning a reference on the socket. This can cause use-after-free as syzbot found [1] Jakub Sitnicki already took care of a similar issue in sock_hash_free() in commit 75e68e5bf2c7 ("bpf, sockhash: Synchronize delete from bucket list on map free") [1] refcount_t: decrement hit 0; leaking memory. WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 3785 at lib/refcount.c:31 refcount_warn_saturate+0x17c/0x1a0 lib/refcount.c:31 Modules linked in: CPU: 0 PID: 3785 Comm: kworker/u4:6 Not tainted 6.1.0-rc7-syzkaller-00103-gef4d3ea40565 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 10/26/2022 Workqueue: events_unbound bpf_map_free_deferred RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x17c/0x1a0 lib/refcount.c:31 Code: 68 8b 31 c0 e8 75 71 15 fd 0f 0b e9 64 ff ff ff e8 d9 6e 4e fd c6 05 62 9c 3d 0a 01 48 c7 c7 80 bb 68 8b 31 c0 e8 54 71 15 fd <0f> 0b e9 43 ff ff ff 89 d9 80 e1 07 80 c1 03 38 c1 0f 8c a2 fe ff RSP: 0018:ffffc9000456fb60 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: eae59bab72dcd700 RBX: 0000000000000004 RCX: ffff8880207057c0 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000201 RDI: 0000000000000000 RBP: 0000000000000004 R08: ffffffff816fdabd R09: fffff520008adee5 R10: fffff520008adee5 R11: 1ffff920008adee4 R12: 0000000000000004 R13: dffffc0000000000 R14: ffff88807b1c6c00 R15: 1ffff1100f638dcf FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8880b9800000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000001b30c30000 CR3: 000000000d08e000 CR4: 00000000003506f0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> __refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:344 [inline] refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:359 [inline] __sock_put include/net/sock.h:779 [inline] tcp_release_cb+0x2d0/0x360 net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:1092 release_sock+0xaf/0x1c0 net/core/sock.c:3468 sock_map_free+0x219/0x2c0 net/core/sock_map.c:356 process_one_work+0x81c/0xd10 kernel/workqueue.c:2289 worker_thread+0xb14/0x1330 kernel/workqueue.c:2436 kthread+0x266/0x300 kernel/kthread.c:376 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:306 </TASK>

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2025-09-15 14:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-15 22:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-09-15 14:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-15 22:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-362 · Race condition

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.4.229
• Linux Kernel < 5.10.163
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.86
• Linux Kernel < 6.0.16
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.2
• Linux Kernel 5.5

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2022-50259.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2022-50259. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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