Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1 vme fake_init null pointer dereference

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5.0	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1. It has been declared as critical. The impacted element is the function fake_init of the component vme. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-50538. There is not any exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1. This vulnerability affects the function fake_init of the component vme. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vme: Fix error not catched in fake_init() In fake_init(), __root_device_register() is possible to fail but it's ignored, which can cause unregistering vme_root fail when exit. general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc000000008c KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000460-0x0000000000000467] RIP: 0010:root_device_unregister+0x26/0x60 Call Trace: <TASK> __x64_sys_delete_module+0x34f/0x540 do_syscall_64+0x38/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd Return error when __root_device_register() fails.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2022-50538 since 10/07/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 270264 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50538), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.9.337, 4.14.303, 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 e831fdd60e5863ee03173baf5a0f7c5450b44381/69b43937f14bdc3594f57f1a507a14f3d1187136/09be0e7ac5f9374b6f8de72c89ed67129af71f65/f3f65c4177846c483bf009f8c512ab04b3c62466/37d3de40c1ffb6a5e626bf46ff5ef5766c824e2c/4bc217b25ea81034fad8e33fd33e4659f086421d/a2a93546d414c7fe4862b87183fb737d1300d9d2/60ff9bd4ffc87bace581e235a6728f5ac8e5071f/7bef797d707f1744f71156b21d41e3b8c946631f 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 (270264), EUVD (EUVD-2025-31991) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2229). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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

• 4.9.336
• 4.14.302
• 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

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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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: 270264
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50538

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.9.337/4.14.303/4.19.270/5.4.229/5.10.163/5.15.86/6.0.16/6.1.2
Patch: e831fdd60e5863ee03173baf5a0f7c5450b44381/69b43937f14bdc3594f57f1a507a14f3d1187136/09be0e7ac5f9374b6f8de72c89ed67129af71f65/f3f65c4177846c483bf009f8c512ab04b3c62466/37d3de40c1ffb6a5e626bf46ff5ef5766c824e2c/4bc217b25ea81034fad8e33fd33e4659f086421d/a2a93546d414c7fe4862b87183fb737d1300d9d2/60ff9bd4ffc87bace581e235a6728f5ac8e5071f/7bef797d707f1744f71156b21d41e3b8c946631f

Timelineinfo

10/07/2025 Advisory disclosed
10/07/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
10/07/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/19/2026 +194 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-50538 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-50538
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-327466
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2229 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/07/2025 19:21
Updated: 04/19/2026 06:01
Changes: 10/07/2025 19:21 (59), 10/19/2025 05:33 (2), 11/22/2025 21:33 (7), 12/22/2025 06:23 (1), 02/04/2026 23:56 (12), 02/05/2026 06:50 (1), 03/01/2026 02:14 (1), 04/19/2026 06:01 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion

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