CVE-2022-50137 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 06/18/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
RDMA/irdma: Fix a window for use-after-free
During a destroy CQ an interrupt may cause processing of a CQE after CQ resources are freed by irdma_cq_free_rsrc(). Fix this by moving the call to irdma_cq_free_rsrc() after the irdma_sc_cleanup_ceqes(), which is called under the cq_lock.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2022-50137 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Linux kernel's RDMA implementation, specifically affecting the irdma driver component. This flaw occurs in the context of InfiniBand RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) operations where the kernel handles completion queue (CQ) destruction processes. The issue manifests when a completion queue is being destroyed while an interrupt handler may simultaneously process completion queue entries, creating a temporal window where memory resources are freed but still referenced. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a severe memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper ordering of resource cleanup operations within the irdma_cq_free_rsrc() function. During the destruction of a completion queue, the driver first calls irdma_cq_free_rsrc() which frees the completion queue resources, but this occurs before irdma_sc_cleanup_ceqes() is executed. The irdma_sc_cleanup_ceqes() function processes completion queue entries under the cq_lock protection, but when interrupts occur during this process, they may attempt to access memory that has already been freed by the earlier function call. This race condition creates an exploitable window where malicious actors could trigger interrupt handlers that reference freed memory locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability directly impacts the kernel's memory management and interrupt handling mechanisms, particularly in high-performance networking environments where RDMA operations are prevalent.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-50137 extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks within environments utilizing RDMA networking capabilities. Systems running Linux kernels with affected irdma drivers are vulnerable to exploitation in scenarios involving high-frequency interrupt processing during resource cleanup operations. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in data center environments where RDMA is used for high-speed interconnects between servers, storage systems, and network equipment. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. The vulnerability affects systems using InfiniBand and RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) networking technologies, making it relevant to enterprise infrastructure, cloud computing platforms, and high-performance computing clusters. The temporal nature of the race condition means that exploitation may require specific timing conditions but is not dependent on complex attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-50137 focus on applying the official kernel patch that reorders the resource cleanup operations to ensure proper synchronization. The fix implements a critical change by moving the irdma_cq_free_rsrc() call after the irdma_sc_cleanup_ceqes() execution, which ensures that all completion queue entries are properly processed and cleaned up before any memory resources are freed. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1068 for bypassing security controls and addresses the root cause through proper resource management. Organizations should prioritize applying the kernel update that includes this fix, particularly in environments where RDMA networking is actively used. Additional mitigations include monitoring for unusual interrupt patterns during resource cleanup operations and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. System administrators should also consider disabling RDMA functionality on systems where it is not required, as this reduces the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper lock ordering and resource management in kernel space code, highlighting the need for comprehensive testing of concurrent operations in high-performance networking drivers. This fix represents a fundamental correction to the kernel's memory management practices and aligns with security best practices outlined in the CWE guidelines for preventing use-after-free vulnerabilities in operating system components.