Linux Kernel up to 5.15.85/6.0.15/6.1.1 fbdev fbcon_do_set_font memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.85/6.0.15/6.1.1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function fbcon_do_set_font of the component fbdev. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2022-50404. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.85/6.0.15/6.1.1 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function fbcon_do_set_font of the component fbdev. The manipulation 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: fbcon: release buffer when fbcon_do_set_font() failed syzbot is reporting memory leak at fbcon_do_set_font() [1], for commit a5a923038d70 ("fbdev: fbcon: Properly revert changes when vc_resize() failed") missed that the buffer might be newly allocated by fbcon_set_font().

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-50404 since 09/17/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265509 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50404), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.15.86, 6.0.16 or 6.1.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 88ec6d11052da527eb9268831e7a9bc5bbad02f6/06926607b9fddf7ce8017493899ce6eb7e79a123/a609bfc1e644a8467cb31945ed1488374ebdc013/3c3bfb8586f848317ceba5d777e11204ba3e5758 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 (265509) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2092). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• 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
• 5.15.63
• 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
• 5.15.79
• 5.15.80
• 5.15.81
• 5.15.82
• 5.15.83
• 5.15.84
• 5.15.85
• 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
• 6.0.9
• 6.0.10
• 6.0.11
• 6.0.12
• 6.0.13
• 6.0.14
• 6.0.15
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

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