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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49840: bpf, test_run: Fix alignment problem in bpf_prog_test_run_skb()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, test_run: Fix alignment problem in bpf_prog_test_run_skb() We got a syzkaller problem because of aarch64 alignment fault if KFENCE enabled. When the size from user bpf program is an odd number, like 399, 407, etc, it will cause the struct skb_shared_info's unaligned access. As seen below: BUG: KFENCE: use-after-free read in __skb_clone+0x23c/0x2a0 net/core/skbuff.c:1032 Use-after-free read at 0xffff6254fffac077 (in kfence-#213): __lse_atomic_add arch/arm64/include/asm/atomic_lse.h:26 [inline] arch_atomic_add arch/arm64/include/asm/atomic.h:28 [inline] arch_atomic_inc include/linux/atomic-arch-fallback.h:270 [inline] atomic_inc include/asm-generic/atomic-instrumented.h:241 [inline] __skb_clone+0x23c/0x2a0 net/core/skbuff.c:1032 skb_clone+0xf4/0x214 net/core/skbuff.c:1481 ____bpf_clone_redirect net/core/filter.c:2433 [inline] bpf_clone_redirect+0x78/0x1c0 net/core/filter.c:2420 bpf_prog_d3839dd9068ceb51+0x80/0x330 bpf_dispatcher_nop_func include/linux/bpf.h:728 [inline] bpf_test_run+0x3c0/0x6c0 net/bpf/test_run.c:53 bpf_prog_test_run_skb+0x638/0xa7c net/bpf/test_run.c:594 bpf_prog_test_run kernel/bpf/syscall.c:3148 [inline] __do_sys_bpf kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4441 [inline] __se_sys_bpf+0xad0/0x1634 kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4381 kfence-#213: 0xffff6254fffac000-0xffff6254fffac196, size=407, cache=kmalloc-512 allocated by task 15074 on cpu 0 at 1342.585390s: kmalloc include/linux/slab.h:568 [inline] kzalloc include/linux/slab.h:675 [inline] bpf_test_init.isra.0+0xac/0x290 net/bpf/test_run.c:191 bpf_prog_test_run_skb+0x11c/0xa7c net/bpf/test_run.c:512 bpf_prog_test_run kernel/bpf/syscall.c:3148 [inline] __do_sys_bpf kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4441 [inline] __se_sys_bpf+0xad0/0x1634 kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4381 __arm64_sys_bpf+0x50/0x60 kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4381 To fix the problem, we adjust @size so that (@size + @hearoom) is a multiple of SMP_CACHE_BYTES. So we make sure the struct skb_shared_info is aligned to a cache line.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel flaw in BPF test-run handling. A local user with enough privilege to interact with BPF could trigger memory corruption behavior, with potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The source does not show remote exploitation or confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority local kernel patching item, especially for shared systems and container hosts. It is not presented as internet-exploitable in the supplied evidence, but kernel memory-safety flaws can support privilege escalation chains.

Technical view

The bug is an alignment issue in bpf_prog_test_run_skb(). Odd user-supplied sizes could place skb_shared_info unaligned, producing an aarch64 KFENCE-reported use-after-free read path through __skb_clone(). The fix aligns size plus headroom to SMP_CACHE_BYTES.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant on Linux systems running affected kernel versions where local users, services, or containers can reach BPF program test-run functionality. The bundle lists affected Linux kernel ranges and stable fixes, but not distribution package names.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, and no user interaction. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation. Evidence describes syzkaller discovery and kernel crash diagnostics, not public weaponization.

Researcher notes

The affected-version data is commit and kernel-range oriented, not distro-specific. The observed failure involved aarch64 with KFENCE and odd skb test input sizes. Do not scope exposure only to KFENCE systems unless vendor analysis confirms that limitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check vendor advisories for exact fixed package versions in your distribution.
  • Reduce untrusted local access to affected hosts until patched.
  • Review BPF access hardening according to your Linux vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Confirm whether deployed kernels include one of the referenced stable commits.
  • Check distribution changelogs or advisories for CVE-2022-49840 coverage.
  • Prioritize validation on aarch64 systems and hosts with BPF-enabled workloads.
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-416: 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.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-49840 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
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-2022-49840Attack 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
LinuxLinux1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4, 1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4, 1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4, 1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4, 1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4, 1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4, 1cf1cae963c2e6032aebe1637e995bc2f5d330f4unaffected
LinuxLinux4.12, 0, 4.14.300, 4.19.267, 5.4.225, 5.10.156, 5.15.80, 6.0.10, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

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.