CVE-2022-49094
📋 TL;DR
This is a slab-out-of-bounds memory corruption vulnerability in the Linux kernel's TLS implementation. It allows attackers to potentially crash systems or execute arbitrary code by exploiting a buffer overflow during TLS decryption. Systems running vulnerable Linux kernel versions with TLS enabled are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Kernel panic leading to denial of service, system crashes, or information disclosure through memory leaks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if TLS is disabled or systems are properly segmented with network controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires ability to establish TLS connections to vulnerable system. Exploitation requires understanding of kernel memory layout and TLS protocol.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 2304660ab6c425df64d95301b601424c6a50f28b, 29be1816cbab9a0dc6243120939fd10a92753756, 2b7d14c105dd8f6412eda5a91e1e6154653731e3, 589154d0f18945f41d138a5b4e49e518d294474b, 6e2f1b033b17dedda51d465861b69e58317d6343
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2304660ab6c425df64d95301b601424c6a50f28b
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable kernel TLS module
LinuxUnload the TLS kernel module to prevent exploitation
rmmod tls
echo 'blacklist tls' > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-tls.conf
Disable TLS 1.3
LinuxConfigure systems to use TLS 1.2 or earlier to avoid the vulnerable code path
sysctl -w net.tls.tls13_enabled=0
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network segmentation to restrict TLS connections to trusted sources only
- Deploy host-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if TLS module is loaded: lsmod | grep tls. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version after update and confirm TLS module functions correctly with test connections.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- KASAN reports of slab-out-of-bounds
- System crashes during TLS handshakes
Network Indicators:
- Unusual TLS connection patterns to kernel ports
- Malformed TLS packets targeting vulnerable systems
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("slab-out-of-bounds" OR "KASAN" OR "tls" AND "panic")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2304660ab6c425df64d95301b601424c6a50f28b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/29be1816cbab9a0dc6243120939fd10a92753756
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b7d14c105dd8f6412eda5a91e1e6154653731e3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/589154d0f18945f41d138a5b4e49e518d294474b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e2f1b033b17dedda51d465861b69e58317d6343
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9381fe8c849cfbe50245ac01fc077554f6eaa0e2
