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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49003: nvme: fix SRCU protection of nvme_ns_head list

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme: fix SRCU protection of nvme_ns_head list Walking the nvme_ns_head siblings list is protected by the head's srcu in nvme_ns_head_submit_bio() but not nvme_mpath_revalidate_paths(). Removing namespaces from the list also fails to synchronize the srcu. Concurrent scan work can therefore cause use-after-frees. Hold the head's srcu lock in nvme_mpath_revalidate_paths() and synchronize with the srcu, not the global RCU, in nvme_ns_remove(). Observed the following panic when making NVMe/RDMA connections with native multipath on the Rocky Linux 8.6 kernel (it seems the upstream kernel has the same race condition). Disassembly shows the faulting instruction is cmp 0x50(%rdx),%rcx; computing capacity != get_capacity(ns->disk). Address 0x50 is dereferenced because ns->disk is NULL. The NULL disk appears to be the result of concurrent scan work freeing the namespace (note the log line in the middle of the panic). [37314.206036] BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0000000000000050 [37314.206036] nvme0n3: detected capacity change from 0 to 11811160064 [37314.299753] PGD 0 P4D 0 [37314.299756] Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP PTI [37314.299759] CPU: 29 PID: 322046 Comm: kworker/u98:3 Kdump: loaded Tainted: G W X --------- - - 4.18.0-372.32.1.el8test86.x86_64 #1 [37314.299762] Hardware name: Dell Inc. PowerEdge R720/0JP31P, BIOS 2.7.0 05/23/2018 [37314.299763] Workqueue: nvme-wq nvme_scan_work [nvme_core] [37314.299783] RIP: 0010:nvme_mpath_revalidate_paths+0x26/0xb0 [nvme_core] [37314.299790] Code: 1f 44 00 00 66 66 66 66 90 55 53 48 8b 5f 50 48 8b 83 c8 c9 00 00 48 8b 13 48 8b 48 50 48 39 d3 74 20 48 8d 42 d0 48 8b 50 20 <48> 3b 4a 50 74 05 f0 80 60 70 ef 48 8b 50 30 48 8d 42 d0 48 39 d3 [37315.058803] RSP: 0018:ffffabe28f913d10 EFLAGS: 00010202 [37315.121316] RAX: ffff927a077da800 RBX: ffff92991dd70000 RCX: 0000000001600000 [37315.206704] RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffff92991b719800 [37315.292106] RBP: ffff929a6b70c000 R08: 000000010234cd4a R09: c0000000ffff7fff [37315.377501] R10: 0000000000000001 R11: ffffabe28f913a30 R12: 0000000000000000 [37315.462889] R13: ffff92992716600c R14: ffff929964e6e030 R15: ffff92991dd70000 [37315.548286] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff92b87fb80000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [37315.645111] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [37315.713871] CR2: 0000000000000050 CR3: 0000002208810006 CR4: 00000000000606e0 [37315.799267] Call Trace: [37315.828515] nvme_update_ns_info+0x1ac/0x250 [nvme_core] [37315.892075] nvme_validate_or_alloc_ns+0x2ff/0xa00 [nvme_core] [37315.961871] ? __blk_mq_free_request+0x6b/0x90 [37316.015021] nvme_scan_work+0x151/0x240 [nvme_core] [37316.073371] process_one_work+0x1a7/0x360 [37316.121318] ? create_worker+0x1a0/0x1a0 [37316.168227] worker_thread+0x30/0x390 [37316.212024] ? create_worker+0x1a0/0x1a0 [37316.258939] kthread+0x10a/0x120 [37316.297557] ? set_kthread_struct+0x50/0x50 [37316.347590] ret_from_fork+0x35/0x40 [37316.390360] Modules linked in: nvme_rdma nvme_tcp(X) nvme_fabrics nvme_core netconsole iscsi_tcp libiscsi_tcp dm_queue_length dm_service_time nf_conntrack_netlink br_netfilter bridge stp llc overlay nft_chain_nat ipt_MASQUERADE nf_nat xt_addrtype xt_CT nft_counter xt_state xt_conntrack nf_conntrack nf_defrag_ipv6 nf_defrag_ipv4 xt_comment xt_multiport nft_compat nf_tables libcrc32c nfnetlink dm_multipath tg3 rpcrdma sunrpc rdma_ucm ib_srpt ib_isert iscsi_target_mod target_core_mod ib_iser libiscsi scsi_transport_iscsi ib_umad rdma_cm ib_ipoib iw_cm ib_cm intel_rapl_msr iTCO_wdt iTCO_vendor_support dcdbas intel_rapl_common sb_edac x86_pkg_temp_thermal intel_powerclamp coretemp kvm_intel ipmi_ssif kvm irqbypass crct10dif_pclmul crc32_pclmul mlx5_ib ghash_clmulni_intel ib_uverbs rapl intel_cstate intel_uncore ib_core ipmi_si joydev mei_me pcspkr ipmi_devintf mei lpc_ich wmi ipmi_msghandler acpi_power_meter ex ---truncated---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-49003 is a Linux kernel NVMe multipath race condition that can crash affected systems during concurrent namespace scanning/removal. The public record describes a kernel panic observed with NVMe/RDMA and native multipath. Business impact is primarily availability risk for storage-dependent Linux hosts.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted availability issue for Linux storage infrastructure. Prioritize patch validation on production systems using NVMe multipath or NVMe/RDMA, especially where storage namespace changes are routine.

Technical view

The NVMe driver walks the nvme_ns_head siblings list without proper SRCU protection in nvme_mpath_revalidate_paths(), and removal used the wrong synchronization path. Concurrent scan work can cause use-after-free, observed as a NULL pointer dereference in nvme_mpath_revalidate_paths().

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using NVMe multipath, especially NVMe over Fabrics/RDMA environments. The CVE record lists Linux kernel versions including 5.15, 5.15.82, 6.0.12, and 6.1 as affected, but distribution backports may differ.

Exploitation context

No cited source states active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The described failure occurs during concurrent NVMe scan and namespace removal activity, making it more relevant to storage infrastructure stability than broad remote compromise.

Researcher notes

Public data provides the root cause and stable kernel references, but no CVSS, CWE, or exploitation evidence. Assess risk through configuration: NVMe multipath and concurrent scan/removal behavior are central to reproducing the failure condition.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux distribution’s advisory for CVE-2022-49003.
  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using NVMe native multipath or NVMe/RDMA.
  • Schedule maintenance where storage path changes may trigger scans.
  • If patch status is unclear, consult vendor support guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernels on NVMe multipath hosts.
  • Identify hosts using NVMe/RDMA or NVMe over Fabrics.
  • Check whether referenced stable commits are present or backported.
  • Review logs for panics in nvme_mpath_revalidate_paths or nvme_scan_work.
  • Confirm fixed kernel versions through distribution errata.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

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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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
4Source 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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxe7d65803e2bb5bc739548b67a5fc72c626cf7e3b, e7d65803e2bb5bc739548b67a5fc72c626cf7e3b, e7d65803e2bb5bc739548b67a5fc72c626cf7e3bunaffected
LinuxLinux5.15, 0, 5.15.82, 6.0.12, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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