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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49410: tracing: Fix potential double free in create_var_ref()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix potential double free in create_var_ref() In create_var_ref(), init_var_ref() is called to initialize the fields of variable ref_field, which is allocated in the previous function call to create_hist_field(). Function init_var_ref() allocates the corresponding fields such as ref_field->system, but frees these fields when the function encounters an error. The caller later calls destroy_hist_field() to conduct error handling, which frees the fields and the variable itself. This results in double free of the fields which are already freed in the previous function. Fix this by storing NULL to the corresponding fields when they are freed in init_var_ref().

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel memory safety flaw in tracing code. A local user with some privileges could trigger a double free, which can crash a system or potentially compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The supplied sources do not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for Linux fleets with local users, shared workloads, or sensitive hosts. No active exploitation is cited, but kernel double-free bugs can have severe business impact.

Technical view

create_var_ref() calls init_var_ref(), which may free ref_field subfields on error. Later error handling calls destroy_hist_field(), freeing the same fields again. The kernel fix NULLs freed fields in init_var_ref() to prevent double free during cleanup.

Likely exposure

Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream kernels missing the stable fixes. Exposure is local, requires low privileges, and depends on access to affected tracing functionality and distro backport status.

Exploitation context

The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, and high CIA impact.

Researcher notes

Evidence identifies CWE-415 in Linux tracing error handling. The bundle names stable kernel commits but does not provide exploit details. Validate against exact downstream kernel packages because vendor backports may not match upstream version numbers.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Confirm whether your distribution has backported the fix to its supported kernels.
  • Restrict untrusted local access where kernel updates cannot be applied promptly.
  • Monitor vendor advisories for any revised affected-version guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, and container hosts.
  • Map running kernels to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
  • Check whether tracing interfaces are exposed to non-administrative users.
  • Prioritize validation on multi-user systems and shared compute hosts.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

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-415: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-49410 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
8Source 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-2022-49410Attack 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
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13, 067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13, 067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13, 067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13, 067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13, 067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13, 067fe038e70f6e64960d26a79c4df5f1413d0f13unaffected
LinuxLinux4.17, 0, 4.19.247, 5.4.198, 5.10.121, 5.15.46, 5.17.14, 5.18.3, 5.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-415 · source CWE mapping

Double Free

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