CVE-2022-43750 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2022
drivers/usb/mon/mon_bin.c in usbmon in the Linux kernel before 5.19.15 and 6.x before 6.0.1 allows a user-space client to corrupt the monitor's internal memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43750 resides within the usbmon subsystem of the Linux kernel, specifically in the mon_bin.c file that handles binary monitoring of USB traffic. This flaw affects kernel versions prior to 5.19.15 and 6.x prior to 6.0.1, representing a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited by unprivileged user-space processes. The usbmon subsystem provides monitoring capabilities for USB traffic, allowing applications to capture and analyze USB communication data, making it a valuable tool for debugging and development purposes. However, this functionality introduces a security risk when user-space clients can manipulate internal kernel memory structures through improper input handling.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the binary monitoring interface. When user-space applications interact with the usbmon subsystem through the binary capture mechanism, the kernel fails to properly validate input parameters and buffer sizes before processing the data. This allows malicious or malformed input to overwrite adjacent kernel memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests more broadly as a memory corruption issue that can affect various kernel data structures. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at kernel level, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a privilege escalation vector that can be leveraged by local attackers or malicious applications. Since the usbmon subsystem is typically accessible to unprivileged users, any process running with standard user permissions can potentially exploit this flaw. This creates a significant risk for systems where user-space applications have access to USB monitoring capabilities, including development environments, embedded systems, and servers where USB devices are frequently connected. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including system crashes, data corruption, or more sinisterly, provide attackers with opportunities to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1543 which covers persistence mechanisms that could be established through kernel-level modifications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-43750 primarily involve upgrading to patched kernel versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and memory boundary checking. System administrators should prioritize updating to kernel versions 5.19.15 or 6.0.1 and later, as these releases contain the necessary fixes that prevent user-space clients from corrupting kernel memory. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling usbmon functionality when not actively needed, particularly in production environments where the risk of exploitation is higher. Implementing proper access controls and monitoring for usbmon usage can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of kernel security hardening measures including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel memory protection features that can help mitigate the impact of similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in the future.