Linux Kernel up to 5.10.98/5.15.21/5.16.7 macsec_dellink memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.98/5.15.21/5.16.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function macsec_dellink. Performing a manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2022-48720. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.98/5.15.21/5.16.7. This affects the function macsec_dellink. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: macsec: Fix offload support for NETDEV_UNREGISTER event Current macsec netdev notify handler handles NETDEV_UNREGISTER event by releasing relevant SW resources only, this causes resources leak in case of macsec HW offload, as the underlay driver was not notified to clean it's macsec offload resources. Fix by calling the underlay driver to clean it's relevant resources by moving offload handling from macsec_dellink() to macsec_common_dellink() when handling NETDEV_UNREGISTER event.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2022-48720. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 235407 (EulerOS 2.0 SP12 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2025-1422)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.99, 5.15.22 or 5.16.8 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 2e7f5b6ee1a7/e7a0b3a0806d/8299be160aad/9cef24c8b76c is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (235407). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 235407
Nessus Name: EulerOS 2.0 SP12 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2025-1422)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.99/5.15.22/5.16.8
Patch: 2e7f5b6ee1a7/e7a0b3a0806d/8299be160aad/9cef24c8b76c

Timelineinfo

06/20/2024 🔍
06/20/2024 +0 days 🔍
10/01/2025 +468 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-48720 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-48720
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-269211

Entryinfo

Created: 06/20/2024 13:47
Updated: 10/01/2025 15:44
Changes: 06/20/2024 13:47 (56), 05/07/2025 11:55 (3), 10/01/2025 15:44 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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