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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50838: net: stream: purge sk_error_queue in sk_stream_kill_queues()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: stream: purge sk_error_queue in sk_stream_kill_queues() Changheon Lee reported TCP socket leaks, with a nice repro. It seems we leak TCP sockets with the following sequence: 1) SOF_TIMESTAMPING_TX_ACK is enabled on the socket. Each ACK will cook an skb put in error queue, from __skb_tstamp_tx(). __skb_tstamp_tx() is using skb_clone(), unless SOF_TIMESTAMPING_OPT_TSONLY was also requested. 2) If the application is also using MSG_ZEROCOPY, then we put in the error queue cloned skbs that had a struct ubuf_info attached to them. Whenever an struct ubuf_info is allocated, sock_zerocopy_alloc() does a sock_hold(). As long as the cloned skbs are still in sk_error_queue, socket refcount is kept elevated. 3) Application closes the socket, while error queue is not empty. Since tcp_close() no longer purges the socket error queue, we might end up with a TCP socket with at least one skb in error queue keeping the socket alive forever. This bug can be (ab)used to consume all kernel memory and freeze the host. We need to purge the error queue, with proper synchronization against concurrent writers.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-50838 is a Linux kernel networking bug that can leave TCP socket resources stuck after an application closes a socket. The source says this can consume all kernel memory and freeze the host. This is primarily an availability risk for Linux systems running affected kernels, especially where untrusted or isolated workloads can run local code.

Executive priority

Prioritize patching on multi-tenant and workload-hosting Linux infrastructure. The business impact is service outage from kernel memory exhaustion, not data theft based on current sources. No active exploitation is cited, but the denial-of-service impact can be severe.

Technical view

The bug is in Linux kernel stream socket cleanup. When timestamping and zero-copy behavior place cloned buffers in sk_error_queue, socket references can remain elevated after close. sk_stream_kill_queues() needed to purge sk_error_queue with synchronization. Without that, TCP sockets may leak indefinitely, enabling kernel memory exhaustion and host freeze.

Likely exposure

Linux systems running affected kernel versions listed by the CVE are exposed. The described trigger requires an application to exercise specific socket options and close sockets with a non-empty error queue. Containers, shared compute, and systems allowing untrusted local workloads are the most relevant exposure areas.

Exploitation context

The source bundle includes a reported reproducer and states the bug can be abused to consume all kernel memory. It does not cite public active exploitation, and KEV is false. Treat this as a denial-of-service condition requiring local application behavior, not as confirmed remote exploitation.

Researcher notes

The affected data contains upstream versions and commit hashes, but no CVSS, CWE, or distribution-specific package mapping. Validation should account for vendor backports. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the source-described local application behavior using TCP timestamping, zero-copy, and uncleared error queues.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize shared hosts, container platforms, and systems running untrusted workloads.
  • If unable to patch, check Linux distribution guidance for supported mitigations.
  • Monitor hosts for abnormal kernel memory growth or unexplained freezes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Compare deployed kernels with vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm distribution backports, not only upstream version numbers.
  • Review outage or memory-exhaustion events on multi-tenant Linux systems.
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

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2022-50838 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
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
10Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux7737b104c211fa843de268b897d601e070292a72, 89be5c357de34718eaaaefed80737f432c5ab86f, 8b8b3d738e450d2c2ccdc75f0ab5a951746c2a96, b631c603b5fb98d2bd709c35d384901965a3dd51, daf15fa1fd997749e881aedd9f03f73a11240e82, 3988164fe9ddf98ebf5b5cdede91ac38c5f08a7e, 24bcbe1cc69fa52dc4f7b5b2456678ed464724d8, 24bcbe1cc69fa52dc4f7b5b2456678ed464724d8, 24bcbe1cc69fa52dc4f7b5b2456678ed464724d8, 6ba975e14f5ebb87143d737c493adf4031409a68, 4437f3ead9e85c35fe0e3adfb98c0b97eaa267ebunaffected
LinuxLinux5.16, 0, 4.9.337, 4.14.303, 4.19.270, 5.4.229, 5.10.163, 5.15.86, 6.0.16, 6.1.2, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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