CVE-2022-41222 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/21/2022
mm/mremap.c in the Linux kernel before 5.13.3 has a use-after-free via a stale TLB because an rmap lock is not held during a PUD move.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41222 represents a critical use-after-free condition in the Linux kernel's memory management subsystem, specifically within the mm/mremap.c file. This flaw exists in kernel versions prior to 5.13.3 and stems from an improper handling of memory management operations that can lead to system instability and potential privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where memory management operations are fundamental to system security and stability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper synchronization during page table operations, specifically when moving Page Upper Directory (PUD) entries. During memory remapping operations, the kernel fails to acquire the required rmap lock before performing a PUD move operation. This race condition creates a window where a stale Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) entry can persist after memory has been freed, allowing for use-after-free conditions to occur. The rmap lock is essential for maintaining consistency between page table entries and the underlying memory structures, and its absence during critical operations creates a path for memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be exploited to achieve privilege escalation and potentially compromise the entire system. An attacker who can trigger the specific sequence of operations leading to this race condition can manipulate memory mappings to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. This represents a significant threat to system integrity, as the kernel is the most privileged component of the operating system where such vulnerabilities can be leveraged to gain complete control over the machine. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernel versions before 5.13.3, making it a widespread concern across many production environments.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition, and also relates to CWE-362, which covers race conditions in memory management operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under T1068, which involves the exploitation of legitimate credentials and privileges, and potentially T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreters. The exploitation requires careful timing and specific memory management operations to trigger the race condition, making it a sophisticated attack vector that would likely be detected by advanced security monitoring systems. The remediation approach involves updating to kernel version 5.13.3 or later, which includes proper synchronization mechanisms to prevent the race condition from occurring. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a critical security risk that could be exploited by sophisticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems.