CVE-2022-3521 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2022
A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function kcm_tx_work of the file net/kcm/kcmsock.c of the component kcm. The manipulation leads to race condition. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. VDB-211018 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3521 represents a critical race condition flaw within the Linux kernel's KCM (Kernel Connection Multiplexing) subsystem. This issue resides in the kcm_tx_work function located within net/kcm/kcmsock.c, making it particularly concerning for systems that rely heavily on network connection management and multiplexing operations. The race condition occurs during the processing of network transactions, where concurrent access patterns can lead to unpredictable system behavior and potential security implications.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate synchronization mechanisms within the KCM subsystem's transmit work processing function. When multiple threads or processes attempt to access the kcm_tx_work function simultaneously, the lack of proper locking or atomic operations creates opportunities for data corruption and inconsistent state management. This race condition can manifest in various ways including memory corruption, double-free scenarios, or unauthorized access to kernel memory regions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in software systems where multiple threads or processes access shared resources without proper synchronization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected Linux kernel versions, particularly those utilizing KCM for high-performance network applications. The race condition could lead to system crashes, denial of service conditions, or potentially enable privilege escalation attacks if exploited by malicious actors. Network services that depend on KCM for connection management, such as high-throughput data processing applications or real-time communication systems, would be particularly vulnerable. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it could potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to kernel memory spaces.
Security professionals should prioritize patching systems running affected kernel versions to mitigate this vulnerability, as the race condition could be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution within kernel space. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the official kernel patch that addresses the synchronization issues within the kcm_tx_work function. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive system logging to track any anomalous behavior related to network connection management. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper synchronization in kernel-level code and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploiting local privileges through kernel vulnerabilities. Additionally, this issue highlights the need for thorough testing of concurrent access patterns in kernel subsystems, as outlined in various kernel security best practices and standards.