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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49872: net: gso: fix panic on frag_list with mixed head alloc types

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: gso: fix panic on frag_list with mixed head alloc types Since commit 3dcbdb134f32 ("net: gso: Fix skb_segment splat when splitting gso_size mangled skb having linear-headed frag_list"), it is allowed to change gso_size of a GRO packet. However, that commit assumes that "checking the first list_skb member suffices; i.e if either of the list_skb members have non head_frag head, then the first one has too". It turns out this assumption does not hold. We've seen BUG_ON being hit in skb_segment when skbs on the frag_list had differing head_frag with the vmxnet3 driver. This happens because __netdev_alloc_skb and __napi_alloc_skb can return a skb that is page backed or kmalloced depending on the requested size. As the result, the last small skb in the GRO packet can be kmalloced. There are three different locations where this can be fixed: (1) We could check head_frag in GRO and not allow GROing skbs with different head_frag. However, that would lead to performance regression on normal forward paths with unmodified gso_size, where !head_frag in the last packet is not a problem. (2) Set a flag in bpf_skb_net_grow and bpf_skb_net_shrink indicating that NETIF_F_SG is undesirable. That would need to eat a bit in sk_buff. Furthermore, that flag can be unset when all skbs on the frag_list are page backed. To retain good performance, bpf_skb_net_grow/shrink would have to walk the frag_list. (3) Walk the frag_list in skb_segment when determining whether NETIF_F_SG should be cleared. This of course slows things down. This patch implements (3). To limit the performance impact in skb_segment, the list is walked only for skbs with SKB_GSO_DODGY set that have gso_size changed. Normal paths thus will not hit it. We could check only the last skb but since we need to walk the whole list anyway, let's stay on the safe side.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash a system during specific network packet segmentation handling. The public record describes a kernel panic, not data theft or privilege escalation. Business urgency depends on whether affected kernels are deployed, especially on systems using networking paths like vmxnet3 where the issue was observed.

Executive priority

Treat this as a patch-management availability issue until vendor severity is known. Prioritize production Linux hosts where an unexpected kernel panic would interrupt critical services, especially virtualized network infrastructure.

Technical view

The flaw is in Linux GSO/GRO handling. After gso_size changes, skb_segment assumed checking the first frag_list skb was enough for head_frag state. Mixed page-backed and kmalloc-backed skb heads can hit a BUG_ON. The fix walks frag_list only for SKB_GSO_DODGY packets with changed gso_size.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or unpatched vendor backports. Systems with heavy virtualized networking, vmxnet3, GRO/GSO, or code paths that alter gso_size deserve closer review. The bundle does not identify affected distributions or appliances.

Exploitation context

No KEV listing and no cited source in the bundle reports active exploitation. The described impact is kernel panic, so practical risk is availability loss. The provided sources do not establish whether a remote attacker can reliably trigger it.

Researcher notes

The evidence is strongest for root cause and fix mechanics, but incomplete for exploitability. The CVE text names vmxnet3 observations and a guarded skb_segment change. It does not provide CVSS, CWE, distribution impact, exploit prerequisites, or active exploitation evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux vendor advisories for CVE-2022-49872 coverage.
  • Upgrade to a kernel build containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize internet-facing and production virtualized Linux hosts.
  • Review vmxnet3-heavy environments for patch status first.
  • Avoid inventing feature workarounds without vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux assets.
  • Map vendor kernel packages to the referenced stable commits.
  • Check crash logs for skb_segment, BUG_ON, GSO, GRO, or vmxnet3.
  • Confirm patched source handles mixed frag_list head_frag states.
  • Record whether each vendor backport includes the fix.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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-2022-49872 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
0ADP providers
9Source links

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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux162a5a8c3aff15c449e6b38355cdf80ab4f77a5a, 55fb612bef7fd237fb70068e2b6ff1cd1543a8ef, 821302dd0c51d29269ef73a595bdff294419e2cd, 3dcbdb134f329842a38f0e6797191b885ab00a00, 3dcbdb134f329842a38f0e6797191b885ab00a00, 3dcbdb134f329842a38f0e6797191b885ab00a00, 3dcbdb134f329842a38f0e6797191b885ab00a00, 3dcbdb134f329842a38f0e6797191b885ab00a00, 92984818ff8cfd97311a5e0ac27f148a00df2b54, 4.9.194, 4.14.145, 4.19.74, 5.2.16unaffected
LinuxLinux5.3, 0, 4.9.334, 4.14.300, 4.19.267, 5.4.225, 5.10.155, 5.15.79, 6.0.9, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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