CVE-2022-49993: loop: Check for overflow while configuring loop
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
loop: Check for overflow while configuring loop
The userspace can configure a loop using an ioctl call, wherein
a configuration of type loop_config is passed (see lo_ioctl()'s
case on line 1550 of drivers/block/loop.c). This proceeds to call
loop_configure() which in turn calls loop_set_status_from_info()
(see line 1050 of loop.c), passing &config->info which is of type
loop_info64*. This function then sets the appropriate values, like
the offset.
loop_device has lo_offset of type loff_t (see line 52 of loop.c),
which is typdef-chained to long long, whereas loop_info64 has
lo_offset of type __u64 (see line 56 of include/uapi/linux/loop.h).
The function directly copies offset from info to the device as
follows (See line 980 of loop.c):
lo->lo_offset = info->lo_offset;
This results in an overflow, which triggers a warning in iomap_iter()
due to a call to iomap_iter_done() which has:
WARN_ON_ONCE(iter->iomap.offset > iter->pos);
Thus, check for negative value during loop_set_status_from_info().
Bug report: https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?id=c620fe14aac810396d3c3edc9ad73848bf69a29e
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel issue is an overflow in loop-device configuration. A malformed offset can be copied from an unsigned user-provided structure into a signed kernel field, causing an internal kernel warning. The sources do not provide a CVSS score, confirmed business impact, or evidence of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a kernel hygiene item with uncertain severity. Patch through normal Linux kernel maintenance unless local multi-user or container-host exposure increases risk. Escalate if your vendor rates it higher or ties it to broader loop-device hardening.
Technical view
The loop driver accepts a loop_config through ioctl, passes loop_info64 into loop_set_status_from_info(), and copies lo_offset from __u64 to signed loff_t. Large values can overflow into a negative offset and trigger WARN_ON_ONCE in iomap_iter(). Kernel stable commits add validation for this condition.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions where loop device configuration is reachable. The CVE data lists Linux kernel versions including 2.6.12 through 6.0-era stable lines as affected, but distro backports must be checked.
Exploitation context
The bundle cites a syzkaller bug report and kernel stable fixes. KEV is false, and no provided source claims active exploitation, weaponized exploit availability, privilege escalation, or remote attackability.
Researcher notes
The public record describes a type-conversion overflow and warning path, not a full impact analysis. Required privileges, reachable configurations, and security consequences beyond warning behavior are not established in the supplied sources.
Mitigation direction
Check vendor kernel advisories and distro backport status for CVE-2022-49993.
Update to a kernel build containing the referenced stable loop-driver fix.
Limit loop device configuration access to trusted administrative contexts where operationally possible.
Prioritize assets allowing untrusted local users or container workloads to interact with loop devices.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
Compare running kernels with vendor advisories and the referenced stable commits.
Confirm whether untrusted users can configure loop devices on affected systems.
Review kernel logs for repeated loop or iomap warning patterns as supporting evidence.
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
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
cve · low confidence lookup
CVE-2022-49993 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
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.
CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
Jun 18, 2025, 11:00 UTC (UTC+00:00)
CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.