CVE-2022-0185
Memory Safety in Linux Kernel 5.1 – 5.4.173
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2022-0185 is a high-severity Integer Overflow or Wraparound (CWE-190) vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel. Its CVSS base score is 8.4 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique LSASS Memory (T1003.001); ranked in the top 2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the legacy_parse_param function within the Filesystem Context subsystem of the Linux kernel. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of supplied parameter lengths when a filesystem lacking native Filesystem Context API support falls back to legacy handling, leading to improper bounds checking during parameter processing. The issue is tracked under CWE-190 and CWE-191 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.4.
An unprivileged local attacker who can mount or open an affected filesystem may trigger the overflow. When unprivileged user namespaces are enabled, no special privileges are required; otherwise the attacker needs namespaced CAP_SYS_ADMIN. Successful exploitation grants the ability to escalate privileges to root on the system.
Upstream fixes are referenced in the mainline kernel commit that corrects legacy_parse_param handling. Vendor advisories, including NetApp's, direct administrators to apply the relevant kernel updates or configuration changes that disable legacy fallback paths where feasible.
EPSS scores for the CVE rose from lower values after disclosure to a peak of 0.0783 on 2023-02-03 before receding to the current 0.0194, indicating a period of increased exploitation interest roughly a year post-publication. Public proof-of-concept code and technical analyses are available.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-15389
Vulnerability Data
A heap-based buffer overflow flaw was found in the way the legacy_parse_param function in the Filesystem Context functionality of the Linux kernel verified the supplied parameters length. An unprivileged (in case of unprivileged user namespaces enabled, otherwise needs namespaced CAP_SYS_ADMIN…
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privilege) local user able to open a filesystem that does not support the Filesystem Context API (and thus fallbacks to legacy handling) could use this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 21 August 2024
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.2.6
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Vulnerability scanning and code analysis can surface underflow flaws after they are introduced.
Routine patching can remediate known underflow bugs once they are discovered in deployed software.
Secure SDLC practices directly require use of safe arithmetic, bounds checks, and testing that prevent integer overflows.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.