Linux Kernel up to 5.17.3 integrity_recalc tag_size memory corruption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 4.19.239/5.4.189/5.10.111/5.15.34/5.17.3. This affects the function integrity_recalc. Executing a manipulation of the argument tag_size can lead to memory corruption. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-49044. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 4.19.239/5.4.189/5.10.111/5.15.34/5.17.3. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function integrity_recalc. The manipulation of the argument tag_size with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dm integrity: fix memory corruption when tag_size is less than digest size It is possible to set up dm-integrity in such a way that the "tag_size" parameter is less than the actual digest size. In this situation, a part of the digest beyond tag_size is ignored. In this case, dm-integrity would write beyond the end of the ic->recalc_tags array and corrupt memory. The corruption happened in integrity_recalc->integrity_sector_checksum->crypto_shash_final. Fix this corruption by increasing the tags array so that it has enough padding at the end to accomodate the loop in integrity_recalc() being able to write a full digest size for the last member of the tags array.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2022-49044 since 02/26/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/24/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 237099 (SUSE SLES12 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2025:01600-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.19.240, 5.4.190, 5.10.112, 5.15.35 or 5.17.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 6a95d91c0b315c965198f6ab7dec7c94129e17e0/7f84c937222944c03f4615ca4742df6bed0e5adf/cd02b2687d66f0a8e716384de4b9a0671331f1dc/6b4bf97587ef6c1927a78934b700204920655123/4d485cf9b609709e45d5113e6e2b1b01254b2fe9/08c1af8f1c13bbf210f1760132f4df24d0ed46d6 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 (237099). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.19.239
• 5.4.189
• 5.10.111
• 5.15.0
• 5.15.1
• 5.15.2
• 5.15.3
• 5.15.4
• 5.15.5
• 5.15.6
• 5.15.7
• 5.15.8
• 5.15.9
• 5.15.10
• 5.15.11
• 5.15.12
• 5.15.13
• 5.15.14
• 5.15.15
• 5.15.16
• 5.15.17
• 5.15.18
• 5.15.19
• 5.15.20
• 5.15.21
• 5.15.22
• 5.15.23
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.17.0
• 5.17.1
• 5.17.2
• 5.17.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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