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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50008: kprobes: don't call disarm_kprobe() for disabled kprobes

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kprobes: don't call disarm_kprobe() for disabled kprobes The assumption in __disable_kprobe() is wrong, and it could try to disarm an already disarmed kprobe and fire the WARN_ONCE() below. [0] We can easily reproduce this issue. 1. Write 0 to /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/enabled. # echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/enabled 2. Run execsnoop. At this time, one kprobe is disabled. # /usr/share/bcc/tools/execsnoop & [1] 2460 PCOMM PID PPID RET ARGS # cat /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/list ffffffff91345650 r __x64_sys_execve+0x0 [FTRACE] ffffffff91345650 k __x64_sys_execve+0x0 [DISABLED][FTRACE] 3. Write 1 to /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/enabled, which changes kprobes_all_disarmed to false but does not arm the disabled kprobe. # echo 1 > /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/enabled # cat /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/list ffffffff91345650 r __x64_sys_execve+0x0 [FTRACE] ffffffff91345650 k __x64_sys_execve+0x0 [DISABLED][FTRACE] 4. Kill execsnoop, when __disable_kprobe() calls disarm_kprobe() for the disabled kprobe and hits the WARN_ONCE() in __disarm_kprobe_ftrace(). # fg /usr/share/bcc/tools/execsnoop ^C Actually, WARN_ONCE() is fired twice, and __unregister_kprobe_top() misses some cleanups and leaves the aggregated kprobe in the hash table. Then, __unregister_trace_kprobe() initialises tk->rp.kp.list and creates an infinite loop like this. aggregated kprobe.list -> kprobe.list -. ^ | '.__.' In this situation, these commands fall into the infinite loop and result in RCU stall or soft lockup. cat /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/list : show_kprobe_addr() enters into the infinite loop with RCU. /usr/share/bcc/tools/execsnoop : warn_kprobe_rereg() holds kprobe_mutex, and __get_valid_kprobe() is stuck in the loop. To avoid the issue, make sure we don't call disarm_kprobe() for disabled kprobes. [0] Failed to disarm kprobe-ftrace at __x64_sys_execve+0x0/0x40 (error -2) WARNING: CPU: 6 PID: 2460 at kernel/kprobes.c:1130 __disarm_kprobe_ftrace.isra.19 (kernel/kprobes.c:1129) Modules linked in: ena CPU: 6 PID: 2460 Comm: execsnoop Not tainted 5.19.0+ #28 Hardware name: Amazon EC2 c5.2xlarge/, BIOS 1.0 10/16/2017 RIP: 0010:__disarm_kprobe_ftrace.isra.19 (kernel/kprobes.c:1129) Code: 24 8b 02 eb c1 80 3d c4 83 f2 01 00 75 d4 48 8b 75 00 89 c2 48 c7 c7 90 fa 0f 92 89 04 24 c6 05 ab 83 01 e8 e4 94 f0 ff <0f> 0b 8b 04 24 eb b1 89 c6 48 c7 c7 60 fa 0f 92 89 04 24 e8 cc 94 RSP: 0018:ffff9e6ec154bd98 EFLAGS: 00010282 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffffffff930f7b00 RCX: 0000000000000001 RDX: 0000000080000001 RSI: ffffffff921461c5 RDI: 00000000ffffffff RBP: ffff89c504286da8 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: c0000000fffeffff R10: 0000000000000000 R11: ffff9e6ec154bc28 R12: ffff89c502394e40 R13: ffff89c502394c00 R14: ffff9e6ec154bc00 R15: 0000000000000000 FS: 00007fe800398740(0000) GS:ffff89c812d80000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000c00057f010 CR3: 0000000103b54006 CR4: 00000000007706e0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> __disable_kprobe (kernel/kprobes.c:1716) disable_kprobe (kernel/kprobes.c:2392) __disable_trace_kprobe (kernel/trace/trace_kprobe.c:340) disable_trace_kprobe (kernel/trace/trace_kprobe.c:429) perf_trace_event_unreg.isra.2 (./include/linux/tracepoint.h:93 kernel/trace/trace_event_perf.c:168) perf_kprobe_destroy (kernel/trace/trace_event_perf.c:295) _free_event (kernel/events/core.c:4971) perf_event_release_kernel (kernel/events/core.c:5176) perf_release (kernel/events/core.c:5186) __fput (fs/file_table.c:321) task_work_run (./include/linux/ ---truncated---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-50008 is a Linux kernel kprobes bug that can leave internal tracing state corrupted. In the documented scenario, tracing cleanup can enter an infinite loop and cause an RCU stall or soft lockup. This is primarily an operational stability risk on systems using kernel tracing, not a documented remote compromise issue.

Executive priority

Treat as a stability patching item for Linux fleets, especially production hosts with observability or tracing tooling. Urgency is lower than internet-exposed code execution bugs, but unresolved soft lockups can affect service availability and incident response visibility.

Technical view

The bug is in kprobes disable handling: __disable_kprobe() could call disarm_kprobe() for an already disabled kprobe. That can trigger WARN_ONCE(), miss cleanup in unregister flow, leave an aggregated kprobe in the hash table, and create a self-referential list loop causing hangs in kprobe listing or tracing paths.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions where kprobes, ftrace, perf, BCC tools, or debugfs-based observability workflows are used. The provided record lists Linux kernel versions as affected but does not describe application-level products or remote exposure.

Exploitation context

The source describes a reproducible local kernel tracing state issue and resulting soft lockup behavior. It does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. Evidence does not support claiming remote exploitation, privilege escalation, or public weaponization.

Researcher notes

The record names Linux as affected and references multiple stable commits. No CVSS, CWE, distribution-specific package data, or exploit-in-the-wild evidence is provided. The safe remediation path is vendor kernel guidance or kernels containing the upstream stable fix.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor kernel advisories for fixed packages matching your distribution.
  • Prioritize kernel updates on hosts using kprobes, BCC, perf, or tracing automation.
  • Review the referenced stable kernel commits for applicable backports.
  • Limit kernel tracing/debugfs access to trusted administrative users.
  • Monitor for RCU stall, soft lockup, and kprobes warning messages.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers and appliances.
  • Identify systems using kprobes, ftrace, perf, BCC, or exec tracing tools.
  • Confirm whether vendor kernel builds include the referenced kprobes fix.
  • Review kernel logs for WARN_ONCE, RCU stall, or soft lockup indicators.
  • Validate observability agents after kernel updates in staging.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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
9Source links

Vulnerability timeline

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  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

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  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
LinuxLinux69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59, 69d54b916d83872a0a327778a01af2a096923f59unaffected
LinuxLinux4.0, 0, 4.9.327, 4.14.292, 4.19.257, 5.4.212, 5.10.141, 5.15.65, 5.19.6, 6.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

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