CVE-2022-50763 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
crypto: marvell/octeontx - prevent integer overflows
The "code_length" value comes from the firmware file. If your firmware is untrusted realistically there is probably very little you can do to protect yourself. Still we try to limit the damage as much as possible. Also Smatch marks any data read from the filesystem as untrusted and prints warnings if it not capped correctly.
The "code_length * 2" can overflow. The round_up(ucode_size, 16) + sizeof() expression can overflow too. Prevent these overflows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-50763 resides within the Linux kernel's cryptographic subsystem, specifically affecting the Marvell octeontx driver implementation. This issue manifests as integer overflow conditions that can occur during firmware processing operations, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the kernel's cryptographic operations. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of firmware data, where the "code_length" parameter originates from external firmware files that may be untrusted. The kernel's handling of these values lacks adequate bounds checking, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors who could exploit this weakness to cause system instability or potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical flaw involves two primary overflow scenarios within the driver's firmware processing logic. The first overflow occurs when the "code_length" value is multiplied by two, where the arithmetic operation exceeds the maximum representable value for the integer type used in the computation. The second overflow condition arises from the expression involving round_up(ucode_size, 16) + sizeof() operations, where the addition of these values can exceed the integer capacity. Both scenarios represent classic integer overflow vulnerabilities that fall under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates on data sourced from firmware files, which are often treated as trusted components within the system, yet the kernel's defensive measures are insufficient to prevent malicious manipulation of these values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or hangs, potentially enabling more sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise the entire system. When integer overflows occur in kernel space, they can lead to memory corruption, privilege escalation opportunities, or denial of service conditions that affect system availability. The vulnerability's exploitation risk is heightened by the fact that firmware files are typically processed without extensive validation, making this attack surface particularly dangerous. According to ATT&CK framework category T1068, this vulnerability could enable privilege escalation attacks, while T1566 covers the initial access through malicious firmware manipulation. The kernel's Smatch static analysis tool has already flagged these issues as potential security concerns, indicating that the vulnerability has been recognized by automated security analysis systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-50763 must focus on implementing proper integer overflow protections within the kernel's firmware processing code. The most effective approach involves adding explicit bounds checking before any arithmetic operations that could potentially overflow, particularly around the multiplication of "code_length" by two and the addition operations involving the round_up and sizeof expressions. System administrators should ensure that firmware updates are only applied from trusted sources and that firmware integrity checks are properly enforced. The kernel patch should include validation of the "code_length" value against maximum allowable limits before performing any calculations, and all arithmetic operations should be protected with overflow detection mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization for firmware data and ensuring that all data read from filesystem sources is properly capped according to security best practices will significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection for cryptographic subsystems to identify potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining up-to-date kernel versions that include the specific patches addressing this vulnerability.