CVE-2022-3566 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/17/2022
A vulnerability was identified in Linux Kernel up to 4.19.316/5.4.278/5.10.220/5.15.161. This impacts the function tcp_getsockopt/tcp_setsockopt of the component TCP Handler. Such manipulation leads to race condition. A high complexity level is associated with this attack. The exploitability is said to be difficult. The vulnerability was introduced in 2.6.12, commit 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 ("Linux-2.6.12-rc2"). Upgrading to version 4.19.317, 5.4.279, 5.10.221, 5.15.162 and 6.1 will fix this issue. The name of the patch is fcd31dd8291b23d713245947ec2b2d99ef07aef2/3b32f265805a49071e2c4568a524398ba22bf93c/d529193eae979a7bf2255cd9fe68b7af7a1c91b3/5bb642cc3355ffd3c8bca0a8bd8e6e65bcc2091c/f49cd2f4d6170d27a2c61f1fecb03d8a70c91f57. The affected component should be upgraded.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3566 represents a significant race condition flaw within the Linux kernel's TCP implementation that specifically impacts the tcp_getsockopt and tcp_setsockopt functions. This issue resides in the TCP handler component of the kernel's networking stack, where concurrent access patterns can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential security implications. The race condition occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to simultaneously access or modify TCP socket options, creating a scenario where the kernel's internal state management becomes inconsistent and potentially exploitable.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the kernel's TCP subsystem. When tcp_getsockopt and tcp_setsockopt functions are invoked concurrently, the lack of adequate locking or atomic operations allows for a window where one operation may interfere with another, potentially leading to memory corruption or information disclosure. This type of race condition falls under the CWE-362 category of "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for privilege escalation through kernel-level manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic concurrency flaw where shared data structures are accessed without proper mutual exclusion controls, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the kernel's behavior through carefully crafted concurrent operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functionality degradation to potentially enable more serious security compromises. An attacker who can successfully exploit this race condition may be able to manipulate TCP socket parameters in ways that could lead to denial of service conditions, information leakage, or even privilege escalation within the kernel context. The race condition could potentially be leveraged to corrupt kernel memory structures, causing system instability or allowing for more sophisticated attacks that target the kernel's networking subsystem. Systems running affected kernel versions are particularly vulnerable when under high concurrent load or when subjected to specific network traffic patterns that trigger the race condition.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3566 primarily focus on applying the official kernel patches released by the Linux kernel development team. Organizations should prioritize updating their systems to kernel versions that include the fix, typically those released after the vulnerability disclosure date. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual network behavior or kernel-level anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper kernel hardening configurations, such as enabling stack canaries and other memory protection mechanisms, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all network-facing systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough testing of kernel updates in production environments to ensure that security fixes do not introduce compatibility issues while providing the necessary protection against concurrent access flaws.