Linux Kernel up to 5.10.109/5.15.32/5.16.18/5.17.1 watch_queue include/linux/slab.h memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.109/5.15.32/5.16.18/5.17.1 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing in the library include/linux/slab.h of the component watch_queue. This manipulation causes memory leak. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2022-49148. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.109/5.15.32/5.16.18/5.17.1. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown part in the library include/linux/slab.h of the component watch_queue. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: watch_queue: Free the page array when watch_queue is dismantled Commit 7ea1a0124b6d ("watch_queue: Free the alloc bitmap when the watch_queue is torn down") took care of the bitmap, but not the page array. BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff88810d9bc140 (size 32): comm "syz-executor335", pid 3603, jiffies 4294946994 (age 12.840s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 40 a7 40 04 00 ea ff ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 @.@............. 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: kmalloc_array include/linux/slab.h:621 [inline] kcalloc include/linux/slab.h:652 [inline] watch_queue_set_size+0x12f/0x2e0 kernel/watch_queue.c:251 pipe_ioctl+0x82/0x140 fs/pipe.c:632 vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline] __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:874 [inline] __se_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:860 [inline] __x64_sys_ioctl+0xfc/0x140 fs/ioctl.c:860 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline]

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2022-49148 since 02/26/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 5.10.110, 5.15.33, 5.16.19 or 5.17.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7169f60110915c8b53bffd43741fa020a75eb87a/4913daecd04addb41bc96a9175a885e1c19862a8/3963a5d1ff75585bddf0c3a918566a6be09d7520/375cd2536494cfbcdda84ae8b3e35bf19d0250b9/b490207017ba237d97b735b2aa66dc241ccd18f5 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.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.109
• 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
• 5.16.0
• 5.16.1
• 5.16.2
• 5.16.3
• 5.16.4
• 5.16.5
• 5.16.6
• 5.16.7
• 5.16.8
• 5.16.9
• 5.16.10
• 5.16.11
• 5.16.12
• 5.16.13
• 5.16.14
• 5.16.15
• 5.16.16
• 5.16.17
• 5.16.18
• 5.17.0
• 5.17.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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