CVE-2022-50451
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NTFS3 filesystem driver. When mounting an NTFS filesystem fails, the driver doesn't properly clean up allocated memory, leading to resource exhaustion over time. This affects Linux systems using the NTFS3 driver to mount NTFS filesystems.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with NTFS3 driver
📦 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Sustained exploitation could lead to kernel memory exhaustion, causing system instability, denial of service, or potential kernel crashes.
Likely Case
Repeated failed mount attempts could gradually consume kernel memory, potentially degrading system performance over time.
If Mitigated
With proper monitoring and limited mount attempts, impact would be minimal to none.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires ability to trigger NTFS mount failures, typically requiring local access and mount privileges. No known weaponized exploits exist.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 2600c80ea7b39f987c3fa89287e73d62e322bbbd, 2dd9ccfb06bcdad30ad92d96c3affa38a458679e, 51e76a232f8c037f1d9e9922edc25b003d5f3414, ff0df7d9cdbb12878155168b5234e99029e5377f
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2600c80ea7b39f987c3fa89287e73d62e322bbbd
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot system to load patched kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable NTFS3 driver
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable NTFS3 driver module
echo 'blacklist ntfs3' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ntfs3.conf
rmmod ntfs3
Use alternative NTFS driver
linuxUse NTFS-3G userspace driver instead of kernel NTFS3 driver
apt-get install ntfs-3g
yum install ntfs-3g
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict mount privileges to trusted users only
- Monitor kernel memory usage and system logs for mount failures
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if NTFS3 driver is loaded: lsmod | grep ntfs3. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits. Test mounting NTFS filesystem and check for memory leaks.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Repeated NTFS mount failures in system logs
- Kernel memory allocation failures
Network Indicators:
- None - local filesystem vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("ntfs3" OR "mount failure")