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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48998: powerpc/bpf/32: Fix Oops on tail call tests

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc/bpf/32: Fix Oops on tail call tests test_bpf tail call tests end up as: test_bpf: #0 Tail call leaf jited:1 85 PASS test_bpf: #1 Tail call 2 jited:1 111 PASS test_bpf: #2 Tail call 3 jited:1 145 PASS test_bpf: #3 Tail call 4 jited:1 170 PASS test_bpf: #4 Tail call load/store leaf jited:1 190 PASS test_bpf: #5 Tail call load/store jited:1 BUG: Unable to handle kernel data access on write at 0xf1b4e000 Faulting instruction address: 0xbe86b710 Oops: Kernel access of bad area, sig: 11 [#1] BE PAGE_SIZE=4K MMU=Hash PowerMac Modules linked in: test_bpf(+) CPU: 0 PID: 97 Comm: insmod Not tainted 6.1.0-rc4+ #195 Hardware name: PowerMac3,1 750CL 0x87210 PowerMac NIP: be86b710 LR: be857e88 CTR: be86b704 REGS: f1b4df20 TRAP: 0300 Not tainted (6.1.0-rc4+) MSR: 00009032 <EE,ME,IR,DR,RI> CR: 28008242 XER: 00000000 DAR: f1b4e000 DSISR: 42000000 GPR00: 00000001 f1b4dfe0 c11d2280 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000002 00000000 GPR08: f1b4e000 be86b704 f1b4e000 00000000 00000000 100d816a f2440000 fe73baa8 GPR16: f2458000 00000000 c1941ae4 f1fe2248 00000045 c0de0000 f2458030 00000000 GPR24: 000003e8 0000000f f2458000 f1b4dc90 3e584b46 00000000 f24466a0 c1941a00 NIP [be86b710] 0xbe86b710 LR [be857e88] __run_one+0xec/0x264 [test_bpf] Call Trace: [f1b4dfe0] [00000002] 0x2 (unreliable) Instruction dump: XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- This is a tentative to write above the stack. The problem is encoutered with tests added by commit 38608ee7b690 ("bpf, tests: Add load store test case for tail call") This happens because tail call is done to a BPF prog with a different stack_depth. At the time being, the stack is kept as is when the caller tail calls its callee. But at exit, the callee restores the stack based on its own properties. Therefore here, at each run, r1 is erroneously increased by 32 - 16 = 16 bytes. This was done that way in order to pass the tail call count from caller to callee through the stack. As powerpc32 doesn't have a red zone in the stack, it was necessary the maintain the stack as is for the tail call. But it was not anticipated that the BPF frame size could be different. Let's take a new approach. Use register r4 to carry the tail call count during the tail call, and save it into the stack at function entry if required. This means the input parameter must be in r3, which is more correct as it is a 32 bits parameter, then tail call better match with normal BPF function entry, the down side being that we move that input parameter back and forth between r3 and r4. That can be optimised later. Doing that also has the advantage of maximising the common parts between tail calls and a normal function exit. With the fix, tail call tests are now successfull: test_bpf: #0 Tail call leaf jited:1 53 PASS test_bpf: #1 Tail call 2 jited:1 115 PASS test_bpf: #2 Tail call 3 jited:1 154 PASS test_bpf: #3 Tail call 4 jited:1 165 PASS test_bpf: #4 Tail call load/store leaf jited:1 101 PASS test_bpf: #5 Tail call load/store jited:1 141 PASS test_bpf: #6 Tail call error path, max count reached jited:1 994 PASS test_bpf: #7 Tail call count preserved across function calls jited:1 140975 PASS test_bpf: #8 Tail call error path, NULL target jited:1 110 PASS test_bpf: #9 Tail call error path, index out of range jited:1 69 PASS test_bpf: test_tail_calls: Summary: 10 PASSED, 0 FAILED, [10/10 JIT'ed]

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel defect on 32-bit PowerPC systems involving BPF tail calls. Under the described test conditions, the kernel can crash with an Oops because stack restoration is calculated incorrectly. The provided sources do not show active exploitation, CVSS severity, or broader real-world impact.

Executive priority

Treat this as targeted kernel reliability risk, not a confirmed widespread emergency. Patch affected 32-bit PowerPC Linux systems through normal kernel maintenance, faster where BPF is used or untrusted users can load BPF programs.

Technical view

The issue is in powerpc/bpf/32 tail call handling. A caller can tail-call a BPF program with a different stack_depth, while the callee restores the stack using its own frame properties. The fix passes the tail-call count through register r4 and aligns tail calls more closely with normal BPF function entry and exit behavior.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux kernels on 32-bit PowerPC using the affected BPF JIT tail-call path. The source marks Linux 5.13, 6.0.12, and 6.1 as affected, plus referenced kernel commits. Required privileges and production exploitability are not stated.

Exploitation context

The provided record describes a kernel Oops reproduced by test_bpf tail-call tests. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source reports active exploitation. The evidence does not establish a weaponized exploit or remote attack path.

Researcher notes

The source evidence is narrow: a test_bpf crash caused by stack pointer drift across tail calls with different frame sizes. It does not provide CVSS, CWE, attacker prerequisites, or exploitability details. Analysis should stay focused on powerpc32 BPF JIT behavior.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected PowerPC 32-bit Linux kernels to releases containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before relying on upstream version numbers.
  • Prioritize systems where BPF programs can be loaded or BPF JIT is enabled.
  • If patching is delayed, follow vendor guidance for limiting BPF or JIT exposure.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and identify any 32-bit PowerPC hosts.
  • Confirm whether affected hosts run kernels marked affected in the CVE record.
  • Check installed kernel changelogs for the referenced stable commits.
  • Review logs for unexplained kernel Oops events involving BPF tail calls.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2022-48998 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux51c66ad849a703d9bbfd7704c941827aed0fd9fd, 51c66ad849a703d9bbfd7704c941827aed0fd9fdunaffected
LinuxLinux5.13, 0, 6.0.12, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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