Linux Kernel up to 5.19.1 KVM lib/debugobjects.c kvm_xen_init_timer initialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 5.19.1. The impacted element is the function kvm_xen_init_timer in the library lib/debugobjects.c of the component KVM. The manipulation results in initialization. This vulnerability was named CVE-2022-50227. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.19.1. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function kvm_xen_init_timer in the library lib/debugobjects.c of the component KVM. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a initialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-665. The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86/xen: Initialize Xen timer only once Add a check for existing xen timers before initializing a new one. Currently kvm_xen_init_timer() is called on every KVM_XEN_VCPU_ATTR_TYPE_TIMER, which is causing the following ODEBUG crash when vcpu->arch.xen.timer is already set. ODEBUG: init active (active state 0) object type: hrtimer hint: xen_timer_callbac0 RIP: 0010:debug_print_object+0x16e/0x250 lib/debugobjects.c:502 Call Trace: __debug_object_init debug_hrtimer_init debug_init hrtimer_init kvm_xen_init_timer kvm_xen_vcpu_set_attr kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl kvm_vcpu_ioctl vfs_ioctl

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2022-50227 since 06/18/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 5.19.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9a9b5771e930f408c3419799000f76a9abaf2278/af735db31285fa699384c649be72a9f32ecbb665 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

• 5.19.0
• 5.19.1

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