Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1 dvb_usb_adapter_init num_adapters_initalized reference count

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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1. It has been rated as critical. Impacted is the function dvb_usb_adapter_init. The manipulation of the argument num_adapters_initalized leads to reference count. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2022-50626. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.1. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function dvb_usb_adapter_init. The manipulation of the argument num_adapters_initalized with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: dvb-usb: fix memory leak in dvb_usb_adapter_init() Syzbot reports a memory leak in "dvb_usb_adapter_init()". The leak is due to not accounting for and freeing current iteration's adapter->priv in case of an error. Currently if an error occurs, it will exit before incrementing "num_adapters_initalized", which is used as a reference counter to free all adap->priv in "dvb_usb_adapter_exit()". There are multiple error paths that can exit from before incrementing the counter. Including the error handling paths for "dvb_usb_adapter_stream_init()", "dvb_usb_adapter_dvb_init()" and "dvb_usb_adapter_frontend_init()" within "dvb_usb_adapter_init()". This means that in case of an error in any of these functions the current iteration is not accounted for and the current iteration's adap->priv is not freed. Fix this by freeing the current iteration's adap->priv in the "stream_init_err:" label in the error path. The rest of the (accounted for) adap->priv objects are freed in dvb_usb_adapter_exit() as expected using the num_adapters_initalized variable. Syzbot report: BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff8881172f1a00 (size 512): comm "kworker/0:2", pid 139, jiffies 4294994873 (age 10.960s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: [<ffffffff844af012>] dvb_usb_adapter_init drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/dvb-usb-init.c:75 [inline] [<ffffffff844af012>] dvb_usb_init drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/dvb-usb-init.c:184 [inline] [<ffffffff844af012>] dvb_usb_device_init.cold+0x4e5/0x79e drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/dvb-usb-init.c:308 [<ffffffff830db21d>] dib0700_probe+0x8d/0x1b0 drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/dib0700_core.c:883 [<ffffffff82d3fdc7>] usb_probe_interface+0x177/0x370 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 [<ffffffff8274ab37>] call_driver_probe drivers/base/dd.c:542 [inline] [<ffffffff8274ab37>] really_probe.part.0+0xe7/0x310 drivers/base/dd.c:621 [<ffffffff8274ae6c>] really_probe drivers/base/dd.c:583 [inline] [<ffffffff8274ae6c>] __driver_probe_device+0x10c/0x1e0 drivers/base/dd.c:752 [<ffffffff8274af6a>] driver_probe_device+0x2a/0x120 drivers/base/dd.c:782 [<ffffffff8274b786>] __device_attach_driver+0xf6/0x140 drivers/base/dd.c:899 [<ffffffff82747c87>] bus_for_each_drv+0xb7/0x100 drivers/base/bus.c:427 [<ffffffff8274b352>] __device_attach+0x122/0x260 drivers/base/dd.c:970 [<ffffffff827498f6>] bus_probe_device+0xc6/0xe0 drivers/base/bus.c:487 [<ffffffff82745cdb>] device_add+0x5fb/0xdf0 drivers/base/core.c:3405 [<ffffffff82d3d202>] usb_set_configuration+0x8f2/0xb80 drivers/usb/core/message.c:2170 [<ffffffff82d4dbfc>] usb_generic_driver_probe+0x8c/0xc0 drivers/usb/core/generic.c:238 [<ffffffff82d3f49c>] usb_probe_device+0x5c/0x140 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:293 [<ffffffff8274ab37>] call_driver_probe drivers/base/dd.c:542 [inline] [<ffffffff8274ab37>] really_probe.part.0+0xe7/0x310 drivers/base/dd.c:621 [<ffffffff8274ae6c>] really_probe drivers/base/dd.c:583 [inline] [<ffffffff8274ae6c>] __driver_probe_device+0x10c/0x1e0 drivers/base/dd.c:752

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2022-50626 since 12/08/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 277776 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50626), 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 733bc9e226da2a7f43b10031b8ebfc26d89ec4bd/e5a49140035591d13ff57a7537c65217e5af0d15/21b6b0c9f3796e6917e90db403dae9e74025fc40/17217737c174883dd975885ab4bee4b00f517239/7d7ab25ead969594df05fb09ee46ca931d46c5c8/d0af6220bb1eed8225a5511de5a3bd386b94afa4/e5d01eb6dc2f699a395d3e731c58a9b3bb4e269f/93bbf2ed428142aa9a9693721230b28571678bf8/94d90fb06b94a90c176270d38861bcba34ce377d 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 (277776) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2756). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • NetApp FAS
  • NetApp AFF
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Microsoft Azure Linux

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

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

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Reference count
CWE: CWE-911 / CWE-664
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 277776
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-50626

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: 733bc9e226da2a7f43b10031b8ebfc26d89ec4bd/e5a49140035591d13ff57a7537c65217e5af0d15/21b6b0c9f3796e6917e90db403dae9e74025fc40/17217737c174883dd975885ab4bee4b00f517239/7d7ab25ead969594df05fb09ee46ca931d46c5c8/d0af6220bb1eed8225a5511de5a3bd386b94afa4/e5d01eb6dc2f699a395d3e731c58a9b3bb4e269f/93bbf2ed428142aa9a9693721230b28571678bf8/94d90fb06b94a90c176270d38861bcba34ce377d

Timelineinfo

12/08/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/08/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/08/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/22/2026 +76 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-50626 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-50626
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-334691
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2756 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen erm&ouml;glichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 12/08/2025 06:07
Updated: 02/22/2026 16:42
Changes: 12/08/2025 06:07 (59), 12/08/2025 06:27 (1), 12/08/2025 18:43 (7), 12/09/2025 06:08 (2), 12/23/2025 18:33 (1), 01/04/2026 09:13 (1), 01/22/2026 03:31 (1), 02/22/2026 16:42 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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