CVE-2022-2318 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/06/2022
There are use-after-free vulnerabilities caused by timer handler in net/rose/rose_timer.c of linux that allow attackers to crash linux kernel without any privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2318 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Linux kernel's ROSE network protocol implementation. This flaw exists specifically in the net/rose/rose_timer.c file which handles timer management for the ROSE (Remote Operations Service Element) protocol, a legacy networking protocol used primarily in amateur radio communications. The ROSE protocol is part of the AX.25 packet layer networking stack that facilitates communication over amateur radio networks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that maintain legacy radio communication infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the timer handler functions of the ROSE protocol implementation. When timer events are processed in the net/rose/rose_timer.c module, the kernel fails to properly validate or manage references to memory structures that may have already been freed. This creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the timing sequence of network events to trigger a use-after-free condition, effectively causing the kernel to access memory that has been deallocated and potentially repurposed. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-416, representing a classic use-after-free flaw that allows for arbitrary memory access patterns and potential code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-2318 is significant as it enables a denial-of-service attack against Linux systems running kernel versions that include the affected ROSE protocol implementation. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending carefully crafted network packets that trigger the timer handler to access freed memory locations, resulting in kernel crashes and system instability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access to exploit, making it accessible to any network entity that can communicate with the target system. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which describes network denial-of-service attacks that can be executed without authentication or elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects systems that have the ROSE protocol enabled in their kernel configuration, which may be present in specialized radio communication equipment, embedded systems, or legacy network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2318 primarily focus on kernel updates and configuration management. System administrators should immediately apply the latest kernel patches that contain the fix for this vulnerability, which typically involves proper memory management and reference counting within the timer handler functions. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling the ROSE protocol module entirely if it is not required for their network operations, using kernel configuration options to prevent loading of the affected code. The fix implemented in the patched kernels addresses the core issue by ensuring proper synchronization and memory validation before timer events are processed. Network segmentation and monitoring can also provide additional layers of defense by detecting anomalous network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date kernel versions and proper security auditing of legacy protocol implementations that may not receive regular security updates.