Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1 md_bitmap_get_counter null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1. Affected by this issue is the function md_bitmap_get_counter. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2022-50402. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function md_bitmap_get_counter. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drivers/md/md-bitmap: check the return value of md_bitmap_get_counter() Check the return value of md_bitmap_get_counter() in case it returns NULL pointer, which will result in a null pointer dereference. v2: update the check to include other dereference

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-50402 since 09/17/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265537 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50402), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.19.270, 5.4.229, 5.10.163, 5.15.86, 6.0.16 or 6.1.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 21e9aac9a74d30907d44bae0d24c036cb3819406/5d8d046f3dba939e74e2414f009df426700430ed/100caacfa0ed26e061954c90cdc835d42f709536/b621d17fe8b079574c773800148fb86907f3445d/ff3b7e12bc9f50de05c9d82b5b79e23e5be888f1/99bef41f8e8d1d52b5cb34f2f193f1346192752b/3bd548e5b819b8c0f2c9085de775c5c7bff9052f 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 (265537) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2092). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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

• 4.19.269
• 5.4.228
• 5.10.162
• 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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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 265537
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50402

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.19.270/5.4.229/5.10.163/5.15.86/6.0.16/6.1.2
Patch: 21e9aac9a74d30907d44bae0d24c036cb3819406/5d8d046f3dba939e74e2414f009df426700430ed/100caacfa0ed26e061954c90cdc835d42f709536/b621d17fe8b079574c773800148fb86907f3445d/ff3b7e12bc9f50de05c9d82b5b79e23e5be888f1/99bef41f8e8d1d52b5cb34f2f193f1346192752b/3bd548e5b819b8c0f2c9085de775c5c7bff9052f

Timelineinfo

09/17/2025 CVE reserved
09/18/2025 +1 days Advisory disclosed
09/18/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/11/2025 +84 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-50402 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-50402
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-324908
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2092 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 09/18/2025 19:18
Updated: 12/11/2025 19:05
Changes: 09/18/2025 19:18 (58), 09/19/2025 23:14 (7), 09/22/2025 01:53 (2), 11/29/2025 14:21 (1), 12/11/2025 19:05 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

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