Linux Kernel up to 5.10.139/5.15.63/5.19.5 nfc pn532_uart_remove use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.139/5.15.63/5.19.5. This issue affects the function pn532_uart_remove of the component nfc. The manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2022-50005. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.139/5.15.63/5.19.5. Affected is the function pn532_uart_remove of the component nfc. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfc: pn533: Fix use-after-free bugs caused by pn532_cmd_timeout When the pn532 uart device is detaching, the pn532_uart_remove() is called. But there are no functions in pn532_uart_remove() that could delete the cmd_timeout timer, which will cause use-after-free bugs. The process is shown below: (thread 1) | (thread 2) | pn532_uart_send_frame pn532_uart_remove | mod_timer(&pn532->cmd_timeout,...) ... | (wait a time) kfree(pn532) //FREE | pn532_cmd_timeout | pn532_uart_send_frame | pn532->... //USE This patch adds del_timer_sync() in pn532_uart_remove() in order to prevent the use-after-free bugs. What's more, the pn53x_unregister_nfc() is well synchronized, it sets nfc_dev->shutting_down to true and there are no syscalls could restart the cmd_timeout timer.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2022-50005 since 06/18/2025. The exploitability is told 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 11/30/2025).

Upgrading to version 5.10.140, 5.15.64 or 5.19.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 50403ee6daddf0d7a14e9d3b51a377c39a08ec8c/9c34c33893db7a80d0e4b55c23d3b65e29609cfb/2c71f5d55a86fd5969428abf525c1ae6b1c7b0f5/f1e941dbf80a9b8bab0bffbc4cbe41cc7f4c6fb6 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 CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1350). Once again VulDB remains the best source for 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

• 5.10.139
• 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
• 5.19.0
• 5.19.1
• 5.19.2
• 5.19.3
• 5.19.4
• 5.19.5

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

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion