CVE-2022-50534

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dm thin: Use last transaction's pmd->root when commit failed Recently we found a softlock up problem in dm thin pool btree lookup code due to corrupted metadata: Kernel panic - not syncing: softlockup: hung tasks CPU: 7 PID: 2669225 Comm: kworker/u16:3 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996) Workqueue: dm-thin do_worker [dm_thin_pool] Call Trace: <IRQ> dump_stack+0x9c/0xd3 panic+0x35d/0x6b9 watchdog_timer_fn.cold+0x16/0x25 __run_hrtimer+0xa2/0x2d0 </IRQ> RIP: 0010:__relink_lru+0x102/0x220 [dm_bufio] __bufio_new+0x11f/0x4f0 [dm_bufio] new_read+0xa3/0x1e0 [dm_bufio] dm_bm_read_lock+0x33/0xd0 [dm_persistent_data] ro_step+0x63/0x100 [dm_persistent_data] btree_lookup_raw.constprop.0+0x44/0x220 [dm_persistent_data] dm_btree_lookup+0x16f/0x210 [dm_persistent_data] dm_thin_find_block+0x12c/0x210 [dm_thin_pool] __process_bio_read_only+0xc5/0x400 [dm_thin_pool] process_thin_deferred_bios+0x1a4/0x4a0 [dm_thin_pool] process_one_work+0x3c5/0x730 Following process may generate a broken btree mixed with fresh and stale btree nodes, which could get dm thin trapped in an infinite loop while looking up data block: Transaction 1: pmd->root = A, A->B->C // One path in btree pmd->root = X, X->Y->Z // Copy-up Transaction 2: X,Z is updated on disk, Y write failed. // Commit failed, dm thin becomes read-only. process_bio_read_only dm_thin_find_block __find_block dm_btree_lookup(pmd->root) The pmd->root points to a broken btree, Y may contain stale node pointing to any block, for example X, which gets dm thin trapped into a dead loop while looking up Z. Fix this by setting pmd->root in __open_metadata(), so that dm thin will use the last transaction's pmd->root if commit failed. Fetch a reproducer in [Link]. Linke: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=216790

At a glance

Exploitability

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

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

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

Timeline

1. 2025-10-07 16:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 05:23 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-10-07 16:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 05:23 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Analyzed

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 4.9.337
• Linux Kernel < 4.14.303
• Linux Kernel < 4.19.270
• Linux Kernel < 5.4.229
• Linux Kernel < 5.10.163
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.87
• Linux Kernel < 6.0.18
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.4

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

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-2022-50534.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2022-50534. 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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