CVE-2022-50518
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a race condition and potential buffer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's parisc architecture firmware interface. It could allow local attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions on PA-RISC (parisc) architecture are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local privilege escalation to kernel mode, allowing complete system compromise and arbitrary code execution.
Likely Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, requiring physical or remote console access to reboot.
If Mitigated
System remains stable with no impact if the vulnerability is not triggered or proper access controls prevent local user exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and knowledge of PA-RISC architecture specifics. Race conditions can be challenging to exploit reliably.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patches available in stable kernel trees (commits: 04a603058e70b8b881bb7860b8bd649f931f2591, 553bc5890ed96a8d006224c3a4673c47fee0d12a, 7236aae5f81f3efbd93d0601e74fc05994bc2580)
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/04a603058e70b8b881bb7860b8bd649f931f2591
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix. 2. For distributions: Use package manager (apt/yum/dnf) to update kernel package. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local user access
linuxLimit non-privileged user access to PA-RISC systems to reduce attack surface.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local users from accessing vulnerable systems
- Monitor systems for unexpected crashes or kernel panics that could indicate exploitation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and architecture: uname -a (look for 'parisc' in output and compare kernel version to patched versions)Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version after update contains the fix commits or is newer than vulnerable versions📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- System crash/reboot logs
- Unexpected firmware call failures
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic events or system crash logs on PA-RISC systems