Linux Kernel up to 5.15.62/5.19.3 net ndisc_router_discovery reference count

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.62/5.19.3 and classified as critical. The impacted element is the function ndisc_router_discovery of the component net. The manipulation leads to reference count. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2022-50043. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.62/5.19.3. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function ndisc_router_discovery of the component net. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: fix potential refcount leak in ndisc_router_discovery() The issue happens on specific paths in the function. After both the object `rt` and `neigh` are grabbed successfully, when `lifetime` is nonzero but the metric needs change, the function just deletes the route and set `rt` to NULL. Then, it may try grabbing `rt` and `neigh` again if above conditions hold. The function simply overwrite `neigh` if succeeds or returns if fails, without decreasing the reference count of previous `neigh`. This may result in memory leaks. Fix it by decrementing the reference count of `neigh` in place.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2022-50043 since 06/18/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 250171 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50043), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.15.63 or 5.19.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ffb15594433391fd7885eb88ce5a7f7bdeefbb15/7998043d31d000c3a93f46182e6569dd0eecda34/7396ba87f1edf549284869451665c7c4e74ecd4f 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 (250171), EUVD (EUVD-2022-55314) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1350). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 5.19.0
• 5.19.1
• 5.19.2
• 5.19.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

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CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

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

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