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CVE-2022-49888: arm64: entry: avoid kprobe recursion

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64: entry: avoid kprobe recursion The cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler() function is called when handling debug exceptions (and synchronous exceptions from BRK instructions), and so is called when a probed function executes. If the compiler does not inline cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler(), it can be probed. If cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler() is probed, any debug exception or software breakpoint exception will result in recursive exceptions leading to a stack overflow. This can be triggered with the ftrace multiple_probes selftest, and as per the example splat below. This is a regression caused by commit: 6459b8469753e9fe ("arm64: entry: consolidate Cortex-A76 erratum 1463225 workaround") ... which removed the NOKPROBE_SYMBOL() annotation associated with the function. My intent was that cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler() would be inlined into its caller, el1_dbg(), which is marked noinstr and cannot be probed. Mark cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler() as __always_inline to ensure this. Example splat prior to this patch (with recursive entries elided): | # echo p cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/kprobe_events | # echo p do_el0_svc >> /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/kprobe_events | # echo 1 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/kprobes/enable | Insufficient stack space to handle exception! | ESR: 0x0000000096000047 -- DABT (current EL) | FAR: 0xffff800009cefff0 | Task stack: [0xffff800009cf0000..0xffff800009cf4000] | IRQ stack: [0xffff800008000000..0xffff800008004000] | Overflow stack: [0xffff00007fbc00f0..0xffff00007fbc10f0] | CPU: 0 PID: 145 Comm: sh Not tainted 6.0.0 #2 | Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) | pstate: 604003c5 (nZCv DAIF +PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) | pc : arm64_enter_el1_dbg+0x4/0x20 | lr : el1_dbg+0x24/0x5c | sp : ffff800009cf0000 | x29: ffff800009cf0000 x28: ffff000002c74740 x27: 0000000000000000 | x26: 0000000000000000 x25: 0000000000000000 x24: 0000000000000000 | x23: 00000000604003c5 x22: ffff80000801745c x21: 0000aaaac95ac068 | x20: 00000000f2000004 x19: ffff800009cf0040 x18: 0000000000000000 | x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 x15: 0000000000000000 | x14: 0000000000000000 x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000000 | x11: 0000000000000010 x10: ffff800008c87190 x9 : ffff800008ca00d0 | x8 : 000000000000003c x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 0000000000000000 | x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 00000000000043a4 | x2 : 00000000f2000004 x1 : 00000000f2000004 x0 : ffff800009cf0040 | Kernel panic - not syncing: kernel stack overflow | CPU: 0 PID: 145 Comm: sh Not tainted 6.0.0 #2 | Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) | Call trace: | dump_backtrace+0xe4/0x104 | show_stack+0x18/0x4c | dump_stack_lvl+0x64/0x7c | dump_stack+0x18/0x38 | panic+0x14c/0x338 | test_taint+0x0/0x2c | panic_bad_stack+0x104/0x118 | handle_bad_stack+0x34/0x48 | __bad_stack+0x78/0x7c | arm64_enter_el1_dbg+0x4/0x20 | el1h_64_sync_handler+0x40/0x98 | el1h_64_sync+0x64/0x68 | cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler+0x0/0x34 ... | el1h_64_sync_handler+0x40/0x98 | el1h_64_sync+0x64/0x68 | cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler+0x0/0x34 ... | el1h_64_sync_handler+0x40/0x98 | el1h_64_sync+0x64/0x68 | cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler+0x0/0x34 | el1h_64_sync_handler+0x40/0x98 | el1h_64_sync+0x64/0x68 | do_el0_svc+0x0/0x28 | el0t_64_sync_handler+0x84/0xf0 | el0t_64_sync+0x18c/0x190 | Kernel Offset: disabled | CPU features: 0x0080,00005021,19001080 | Memory Limit: none | ---[ end Kernel panic - not syncing: kernel stack overflow ]--- With this patch, cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler() is inlined into el1_dbg(), and el1_dbg() cannot be probed: | # echo p cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/kprobe_events | sh: write error: No such file or directory | # grep -w cortex_a76_errat ---truncated---

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Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-49888 is a Linux kernel ARM64 bug that can crash a system when kernel probing interacts with a Cortex-A76 debug exception handler. The source evidence describes a kernel stack overflow and panic. Business impact is primarily availability risk on affected ARM64 Linux systems, not confirmed data theft or remote compromise.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted availability issue. It is important for ARM64 fleets and critical infrastructure, but the source bundle does not support claims of active exploitation or remote compromise.

Technical view

A regression removed protection around cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler(). If the handler is not inlined, it can be probed; debug or breakpoint exceptions can then recurse until kernel stack overflow. The fix forces the handler to be always inlined into el1_dbg(), which cannot be probed.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to ARM64 Linux systems running affected kernel versions or builds containing the referenced regression. Systems using vendor kernels may be fixed through backports, so version-only checks are insufficient.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not cite KEV listing or in-the-wild exploitation. The provided evidence shows a local trigger through kernel tracing/kprobe behavior and a selftest, resulting in kernel panic. Required access level is not fully specified in the CVE bundle.

Researcher notes

The key condition is probeability of cortex_a76_erratum_1463225_debug_handler() after regression commit 6459b8469753e9fe. The supplied affected-version data is sparse and duplicated, so validate against kernel source or vendor backport metadata.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes.
  • Prioritize affected ARM64 systems where uptime is critical.
  • Restrict unnecessary access to kernel tracing and debug interfaces until fixed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory ARM64 Linux hosts and their exact kernel builds.
  • Check vendor changelogs for the referenced arm64 kprobe recursion fix.
  • Review kernel panic logs for stack overflow involving el1_dbg or the Cortex-A76 handler.
  • Confirm patched builds include one of the linked stable commits or equivalent backport.
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
0ADP providers
4Source 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

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Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux6459b8469753e9feaa8b34691d097cffad905931, 6459b8469753e9feaa8b34691d097cffad905931, 6459b8469753e9feaa8b34691d097cffad905931unaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 5.15.78, 6.0.8, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

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