CVE-2022-1974 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2022
A use-after-free flaw was found in the Linux kernel's NFC core functionality due to a race condition between kobject creation and delete. This vulnerability allows a local attacker with CAP_NET_ADMIN privilege to leak kernel information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1974 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the Linux kernel's NFC core subsystem, demonstrating a fundamental race condition that undermines memory safety mechanisms. This flaw specifically manifests during the interaction between kobject creation and deletion processes, creating a temporal window where kernel memory structures become accessible after their intended lifecycle has ended. The vulnerability resides in the kernel's handling of NFC (Near Field Communication) subsystem objects, where improper synchronization between object lifecycle management operations enables malicious exploitation. The race condition occurs when the kernel attempts to manage reference counts and memory deallocation for NFC core objects, allowing an attacker to manipulate the timing of these operations to achieve unintended memory access patterns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a local attacker to possess the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability, which grants network administration privileges within the Linux security framework. This privilege level allows the attacker to interact with the NFC subsystem and manipulate kernel objects through the network interface. The flaw enables information leakage rather than direct code execution, though such information disclosure can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. The use-after-free condition specifically affects kernel memory regions that contain sensitive data structures related to NFC device management, potentially exposing kernel addresses, internal data layouts, or other confidential information that could aid in bypassing kernel security mitigations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 as a Use After Free condition, which represents a well-known class of memory safety issues that frequently lead to privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running Linux kernels with NFC capabilities, particularly those in enterprise environments where network administration privileges might be more broadly distributed. The impact extends beyond simple information leakage, as leaked kernel information can be leveraged to defeat kernel address space layout randomization (ASLR) and other memory protection mechanisms that are critical for modern exploit mitigation strategies. Systems utilizing NFC hardware for various purposes including mobile payments, access control, or device pairing become vulnerable to attacks that could potentially escalate to full system compromise. The local nature of the attack requirement means that an attacker must first gain access to a system with appropriate privileges, but this access level is often achievable in compromised environments or through legitimate administrative activities. The vulnerability's presence in the core NFC subsystem suggests that any device or system that utilizes NFC functionality for kernel-level operations could be at risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1974 primarily focus on kernel updates that address the underlying race condition in the NFC core implementation. System administrators should prioritize applying the latest kernel patches that contain fixes for this specific vulnerability, which typically involve proper synchronization mechanisms to prevent the race condition between kobject creation and deletion. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 by addressing privilege escalation vectors through kernel-level fixes rather than attempting to work around the issue at the application level. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious network administration activities that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include limiting the capabilities of network administration users through capability-based access controls and ensuring that NFC functionality is disabled on systems where it is not required. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel object lifecycle management and demonstrates how seemingly minor synchronization issues can have significant security implications, particularly when they involve privileged operations that can be leveraged for information disclosure attacks.