Linux Kernel up to 6.0.2 staging rtw_init_cmd_priv memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.219/5.10.149/5.15.74/5.19.16/6.0.2. Affected by this issue is the function rtw_init_cmd_priv of the component staging. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2022-50513. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.219/5.10.149/5.15.74/5.19.16/6.0.2 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function rtw_init_cmd_priv of the component staging. 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: staging: rtl8723bs: fix a potential memory leak in rtw_init_cmd_priv() In rtw_init_cmd_priv(), if `pcmdpriv->rsp_allocated_buf` is allocated in failure, then `pcmdpriv->cmd_allocated_buf` will be not properly released. Besides, considering there are only two error paths and the first one can directly return, so we do not need implicitly jump to the `exit` tag to execute the error handler. So this patch added `kfree(pcmdpriv->cmd_allocated_buf);` on the error path to release the resource and simplified the return logic of rtw_init_cmd_priv(). As there is no proper device to test with, no runtime testing was performed.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-50513 since 10/07/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 5.4.220, 5.10.150, 5.15.75, 5.19.17 or 6.0.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e5d8f05edb36fc4ab15beec62cb6ab62f5a60fe2/e6cc39db24a63f68314473621020ed8cad7be423/39bef9c6a91bbb790d04c1347cfeae584541fb6a/a5be64ff6d21f7805a91e6d81f53fc19cd9f0fae/8db6ca84eee0ac258706f3fca54f7c021cb159ef/708056fba733a73d926772ea4ce9a42d240345da 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-2025-2229). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.219
• 5.10.149
• 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
• 5.19.0
• 5.19.1
• 5.19.2
• 5.19.3
• 5.19.4
• 5.19.5
• 5.19.6
• 5.19.7
• 5.19.8
• 5.19.9
• 5.19.10
• 5.19.11
• 5.19.12
• 5.19.13
• 5.19.14
• 5.19.15
• 5.19.16
• 6.0.0
• 6.0.1
• 6.0.2

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

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion