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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49349: ext4: fix use-after-free in ext4_rename_dir_prepare

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix use-after-free in ext4_rename_dir_prepare We got issue as follows: EXT4-fs (loop0): mounted filesystem without journal. Opts: ,errors=continue ext4_get_first_dir_block: bh->b_data=0xffff88810bee6000 len=34478 ext4_get_first_dir_block: *parent_de=0xffff88810beee6ae bh->b_data=0xffff88810bee6000 ext4_rename_dir_prepare: [1] parent_de=0xffff88810beee6ae ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in ext4_rename_dir_prepare+0x152/0x220 Read of size 4 at addr ffff88810beee6ae by task rep/1895 CPU: 13 PID: 1895 Comm: rep Not tainted 5.10.0+ #241 Call Trace: dump_stack+0xbe/0xf9 print_address_description.constprop.0+0x1e/0x220 kasan_report.cold+0x37/0x7f ext4_rename_dir_prepare+0x152/0x220 ext4_rename+0xf44/0x1ad0 ext4_rename2+0x11c/0x170 vfs_rename+0xa84/0x1440 do_renameat2+0x683/0x8f0 __x64_sys_renameat+0x53/0x60 do_syscall_64+0x33/0x40 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xa9 RIP: 0033:0x7f45a6fc41c9 RSP: 002b:00007ffc5a470218 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000108 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 00007f45a6fc41c9 RDX: 0000000000000005 RSI: 0000000020000180 RDI: 0000000000000005 RBP: 00007ffc5a470240 R08: 00007ffc5a470160 R09: 0000000020000080 R10: 00000000200001c0 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000000000400bb0 R13: 00007ffc5a470320 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: 0000000000000000 The buggy address belongs to the page: page:00000000440015ce refcount:0 mapcount:0 mapping:0000000000000000 index:0x1 pfn:0x10beee flags: 0x200000000000000() raw: 0200000000000000 ffffea00043ff4c8 ffffea0004325608 0000000000000000 raw: 0000000000000001 0000000000000000 00000000ffffffff 0000000000000000 page dumped because: kasan: bad access detected Memory state around the buggy address: ffff88810beee580: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ffff88810beee600: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff >ffff88810beee680: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ^ ffff88810beee700: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ffff88810beee780: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ================================================================== Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint ext4_rename_dir_prepare: [2] parent_de->inode=3537895424 ext4_rename_dir_prepare: [3] dir=0xffff888124170140 ext4_rename_dir_prepare: [4] ino=2 ext4_rename_dir_prepare: ent->dir->i_ino=2 parent=-757071872 Reason is first directory entry which 'rec_len' is 34478, then will get illegal parent entry. Now, we do not check directory entry after read directory block in 'ext4_get_first_dir_block'. To solve this issue, check directory entry in 'ext4_get_first_dir_block'. [ Trigger an ext4_error() instead of just warning if the directory is missing a '.' or '..' entry. Also make sure we return an error code if the file system is corrupted. -TYT ]

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-49349 is a Linux kernel ext4 bug. A local authenticated user or workload handling a corrupted ext4 filesystem could trigger a use-after-free during directory rename, risking kernel crash or possible privilege-impacting memory corruption. It is high priority for Linux systems that mount ext4 content from less-trusted sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority Linux hygiene issue, not an internet-facing emergency based on current evidence. Prioritize shared servers, developer systems, virtualization hosts, and environments that handle removable media or untrusted filesystem images.

Technical view

The flaw is a CWE-416 use-after-free in ext4_rename_dir_prepare. ext4_get_first_dir_block did not validate a directory entry after reading a directory block; a corrupted rec_len could produce an invalid parent entry. The upstream fix adds directory-entry validation, triggers ext4_error for missing dot entries, and returns an error on corruption.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with ext4 enabled, especially where local users, containers, removable media, disk images, or automation can introduce or operate on corrupted ext4 filesystems.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. The source bundle does not identify public exploitation, and KEV is false, so active exploitation should not be assumed from this evidence.

Researcher notes

The provided record ties exploitation to malformed ext4 directory metadata and a rename path. Evidence supports memory corruption risk, but does not provide exploit maturity, affected distribution package names, or a universal fixed version. Validate against kernel stable commits and downstream backports.

Mitigation direction

  • Update Linux kernels to vendor releases containing the listed upstream stable fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for the exact patched package version in use.
  • Limit untrusted local users' ability to mount or manipulate ext4 disk images.
  • Avoid mounting untrusted ext4 filesystems on sensitive hosts where practical.
  • Monitor vendor guidance for backports and supported mitigations.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, containers, and appliances.
  • Identify hosts using ext4 or processing ext4 disk images.
  • Compare installed kernel builds against vendor advisories and listed stable commits.
  • Confirm untrusted filesystem mounting paths are restricted or isolated.
  • Review kernel logs for ext4 corruption or KASAN-like crash indicators.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
11

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-49349 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
10Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-49349Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4, 32f7f22c0b52e8189fef83986b16dc7abe95f2c4unaffected
LinuxLinux3.8, 0, 4.9.318, 4.14.283, 4.19.247, 5.4.198, 5.10.121, 5.15.46, 5.17.14, 5.18.3, 5.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-416

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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