Linux Kernel up to 6.0.8 wifi query_regdb_file alpha2 memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 4.19.266/5.4.224/5.10.154/5.15.78/6.0.8. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function query_regdb_file of the component wifi. The manipulation of the argument alpha2 leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2022-49881. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 4.19.266/5.4.224/5.10.154/5.15.78/6.0.8. This issue affects the function query_regdb_file of the component wifi. The manipulation of the argument alpha2 with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: fix memory leak in query_regdb_file() In the function query_regdb_file() the alpha2 parameter is duplicated using kmemdup() and subsequently freed in regdb_fw_cb(). However, request_firmware_nowait() can fail without calling regdb_fw_cb() and thus leak memory.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2022-49881 since 05/01/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242218 (SUSE SLES12 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2025:02334-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.19.267, 5.4.225, 5.10.155, 5.15.79 or 6.0.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 219446396786330937bcd382a7bc4ccd767383bc/0ede1a988299e95d54bd89551fd635980572e920/e1e12180321f416d83444f2cdc9259e0f5093d35/38c9fa2cc6bf4b6e1a74057aef8b5cffd23d3264/e9b5a4566d5bc71cc901be50d1fa24da00613120/57b962e627ec0ae53d4d16d7bd1033e27e67677a 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 databases at Tenable (242218) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0922). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM DataPower Gateway
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.19.266
• 5.4.224
• 5.10.154
• 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
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.15.46
• 5.15.47
• 5.15.48
• 5.15.49
• 5.15.50
• 5.15.51
• 5.15.52
• 5.15.53
• 5.15.54
• 5.15.55
• 5.15.56
• 5.15.57
• 5.15.58
• 5.15.59
• 5.15.60
• 5.15.61
• 5.15.62
• 5.15.63
• 5.15.64
• 5.15.65
• 5.15.66
• 5.15.67
• 5.15.68
• 5.15.69
• 5.15.70
• 5.15.71
• 5.15.72
• 5.15.73
• 5.15.74
• 5.15.75
• 5.15.76
• 5.15.77
• 5.15.78
• 6.0.0
• 6.0.1
• 6.0.2
• 6.0.3
• 6.0.4
• 6.0.5
• 6.0.6
• 6.0.7
• 6.0.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion