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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50280: pnode: terminate at peers of source

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pnode: terminate at peers of source The propagate_mnt() function handles mount propagation when creating mounts and propagates the source mount tree @source_mnt to all applicable nodes of the destination propagation mount tree headed by @dest_mnt. Unfortunately it contains a bug where it fails to terminate at peers of @source_mnt when looking up copies of the source mount that become masters for copies of the source mount tree mounted on top of slaves in the destination propagation tree causing a NULL dereference. Once the mechanics of the bug are understood it's easy to trigger. Because of unprivileged user namespaces it is available to unprivileged users. While fixing this bug we've gotten confused multiple times due to unclear terminology or missing concepts. So let's start this with some clarifications: * The terms "master" or "peer" denote a shared mount. A shared mount belongs to a peer group. * A peer group is a set of shared mounts that propagate to each other. They are identified by a peer group id. The peer group id is available in @shared_mnt->mnt_group_id. Shared mounts within the same peer group have the same peer group id. The peers in a peer group can be reached via @shared_mnt->mnt_share. * The terms "slave mount" or "dependent mount" denote a mount that receives propagation from a peer in a peer group. IOW, shared mounts may have slave mounts and slave mounts have shared mounts as their master. Slave mounts of a given peer in a peer group are listed on that peers slave list available at @shared_mnt->mnt_slave_list. * The term "master mount" denotes a mount in a peer group. IOW, it denotes a shared mount or a peer mount in a peer group. The term "master mount" - or "master" for short - is mostly used when talking in the context of slave mounts that receive propagation from a master mount. A master mount of a slave identifies the closest peer group a slave mount receives propagation from. The master mount of a slave can be identified via @slave_mount->mnt_master. Different slaves may point to different masters in the same peer group. * Multiple peers in a peer group can have non-empty ->mnt_slave_lists. Non-empty ->mnt_slave_lists of peers don't intersect. Consequently, to ensure all slave mounts of a peer group are visited the ->mnt_slave_lists of all peers in a peer group have to be walked. * Slave mounts point to a peer in the closest peer group they receive propagation from via @slave_mnt->mnt_master (see above). Together with these peers they form a propagation group (see below). The closest peer group can thus be identified through the peer group id @slave_mnt->mnt_master->mnt_group_id of the peer/master that a slave mount receives propagation from. * A shared-slave mount is a slave mount to a peer group pg1 while also a peer in another peer group pg2. IOW, a peer group may receive propagation from another peer group. If a peer group pg1 is a slave to another peer group pg2 then all peers in peer group pg1 point to the same peer in peer group pg2 via ->mnt_master. IOW, all peers in peer group pg1 appear on the same ->mnt_slave_list. IOW, they cannot be slaves to different peer groups. * A pure slave mount is a slave mount that is a slave to a peer group but is not a peer in another peer group. * A propagation group denotes the set of mounts consisting of a single peer group pg1 and all slave mounts and shared-slave mounts that point to a peer in that peer group via ->mnt_master. IOW, all slave mounts such that @slave_mnt->mnt_master->mnt_group_id is equal to @shared_mnt->mnt_group_id. The concept of a propagation group makes it easier to talk about a single propagation level in a propagation tree. For example, in propagate_mnt() the immediate peers of @dest_mnt and all slaves of @dest_mnt's peer group form a propagation group pr ---truncated---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-50280 is a Linux kernel mount propagation bug that can cause a NULL pointer dereference. The source says it is easy to trigger once understood and reachable by unprivileged users when unprivileged user namespaces are available. No active exploitation is reported in the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a timely kernel maintenance item, especially on shared or container-capable Linux systems. The available evidence supports local availability and probable stability impact, but not confirmed active exploitation or remote compromise.

Technical view

The flaw is in propagate_mnt(), which can fail to stop at peers of source_mnt while finding source-mount copies for slave propagation. That faulty traversal can produce a NULL dereference during mount propagation. The kernel stable references indicate fixes across maintained branches.

Likely exposure

Linux systems running affected kernel versions are the relevant exposure. Risk is higher where unprivileged user namespaces are enabled or available to local users, including multi-user hosts and container-oriented environments.

Exploitation context

The provided kernel description states the bug is easy to trigger after the mechanics are understood and available to unprivileged users through user namespaces. The CVE is not marked KEV, and the bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The source centers on mount propagation relationships among peer groups, slave mounts, and shared-slave mounts. Analysis should focus on propagate_mnt() traversal and the stable commits. Avoid assuming privilege escalation without source evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced Linux stable fixes.
  • Prioritize multi-user and container hosts with unprivileged user namespaces enabled.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
  • Use vendor-supported hardening guidance for unprivileged user namespaces until patched.
  • Do not deploy direct kernel changes outside normal vendor support processes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, and container hosts.
  • Confirm whether unprivileged user namespaces are enabled on exposed systems.
  • Map installed kernels to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
  • Verify patched systems rebooted into the fixed kernel.
  • Track exceptions where kernel updates are pending or blocked.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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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
10Source 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
LinuxLinuxf2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, f2ebb3a921c1ca1e2ddd9242e95a1989a50c4c68, fc7b1646bf29f722277bdd19551e01420ce9da8funaffected
LinuxLinux3.15, 0, 4.9.337, 4.14.303, 4.19.270, 5.4.229, 5.10.163, 5.15.87, 6.0.17, 6.1.3, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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